A house with a garden inscribed in the fabric of the Masurian town of Ukta is a solution combining classical elements of local construction with traditional Japanese architecture.
Yoichi Iida - a Japanese living in Olsztyn, who became interested in an endeavor that draws on the canons of spatial design in his native country - interviewed the project's author Adam Korulczyk, head of the 000 KAG ARCHITECTURE | Korulczyk Architects Group studio.
Adam Korulczyk and Yoichi Iida
KAG Architecture
Yoichi Iida: Why Japan in Mazury?
Adam Korulczyk: Good question! Why Japan and not Peru, Congo or Egypt? Back when I was a student at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdansk, Poland, I was fascinated by harmonized minimalism and sublime beauty, of which Japanese gardens that express respect for nature by combining art and skeletal construction were excellent examples. In addition, my commitment to learning about the Land of the Cherry Blossom was strengthened by intensive karate and aikido training - including under the guidance of Japanese masters - culminating in earning a black belt in 2008. I met with the current investor no where else but precisely on the mat. The result of the friendship formed was the commissioning of a design for a house with a garden that would suit our common interests. I enriched the typical regional arcade hut with references to Far Eastern design and geometry.
functional design of the plot and house
proj.: © Adam Korulczyk | KAG Architecture
Yoichi Iida: What aspects contribute to the attractiveness of the building?
Adam Korulczyk: The two mentioned tissues form a symbiosis and intermingle, complementing each other. Starting with the tectonic layout, the entire project was subordinated to the natural terrain. Exposed watercourses and underground drainage direct rainwater and the designed cascading stream to a reservoir located in the middle zone of the plot, and further to the drainage system. I designed the plot together with the buildings, pedestrian ducts and greenery according to the principles of the golden division of space. The elevations of the building and the internal and external dividers were defined in the same way. Three cottages for recreational purposes are inscribed in the depth of the area, which are accessed by independent tracts separated by greenery. Thanks to this, the developer achieved an effect of intimacy and privacy in each zone.
The interior surprises with its open, naturally lit space. It features an openwork cantilever staircase leading to a mezzanine and a green space with a tree stand. The living room and bedroom have excellent southwestern lighting. Terraces are located on the south and west sides, and a communicating arcade has been set out at ground level on each of the four elevations. The interiors will see finishes in the old Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique.
I placed the body of the main building at the most convenient point of the plot, which offers an attractive view of the garden. Green zones, architecture and communication intermingle. Thanks to the use of large-scaled mobile and glazed walls, the garden visually penetrates into the interior of the building, uniting the two spaces. Being inside the house, one gets the impression of being in the garden, which gives a sense of complete fusion and living dialogue with the surrounding nature.
vision of the building's body in context
design: © Adam Korulczyk | KAG Architecture
Yoichi Iida: What is the completion date for the building?
Adam Korulczyk: If all formalities are completed, construction will begin later this year. The investor has set aside about ten years to build and finish the facility. It will certainly be one of the most interesting architectural projects in the Mazurian Landscape Park. Despite its exoticism, it is definitely more in tune with the spirit of the region than most post-war buildings.
vision of the mass of the building in context
proj.: © Adam Korulczyk | KAG Architecture
Yoichi Iida: So it remains for me to wish you and the Investor good luck in the implementation.
Adam Korulczyk: Thank you on behalf of myself and the Investor. The multifaceted nature of the investment gives all participants in the project great satisfaction with hopes for further progress in the architectural industry.
