KA Architects faced an interesting challenge - the reconstruction and modernization of a single-family house from the 1980s located in Wojkowice. The investors dreamed of enlarging the space, opening to the garden, a leisure and recreation area and a large swimming pool, all framed in a modern form. This is how the levitating house, which is divided into two contrasting blocks, was created. We talk about the design work and challenges with authors Małgorzata Kabat and Andrzej Kabat.
The added part is characterized by a white facade and a large terrace
© KA Architects
Dobrawa Bies: The levitating house is a combination of the existing building and the new addition. Together they create a strong contrast. Tell us, please, about the design assumptions.
KA Architects: During the design process, we proceed from the assumption that the idea and the concept are the carriers of a valuable project. Our projects are a search for new forms, in the context of place, time and space. Therefore, this time too, the starting point for our idea was the context of the surroundings. The main design consideration for us was to create a modern building, whose simple form would relate to the existing building. In order to continue the original concept, we used a block with a gable roof referring to the existing building. The angle of the roof slopes in the newly designed building remained the same as in the existing building undergoing expansion.
The main design idea was to create a modern building,
whose simple form will relate to the existing building
© KA Architects
Another important assumption was to create a new volume of the facility, which, due to its expanded function, will not overwhelm. During the initial design analyses, we recognized that the large area of the newly designed part of the house and the expanded functional program received from the investors could significantly dominate the existing building with its proportions.
We wanted to obtain the most attractive form of the object, so in order to counterbalance the impression of a heavy body we decided to undercut it. Thanks to the use of a cantilever structure and a strong play of contrasts, the newly designed mass gives the impression of levitation. The design was guided by the goal to enlarge the usable area of the building, but also to better open the house to the garden and let in more light. Extending far out into the garden, a section of the new block gives the impression of connecting the house with the garden and integrating the two spaces.
In order to offset the impression of a heavy block, the architects decided to undercut it
© KA Architekci
Dobrawa: What requirements did the investors approach you with?
KA Architects: The investors gave us a fairly simple task (or at least that's what we thought at first). They wanted to expand the usable area of their house to include living space with additional leisure and recreational functions. Quite unusual for us, the task was to create a swimming pool space that would occupy a sizable usable area of part of the entire house, along with all the technical facilities. Fortunately, we were able to locate it in the underground part of the building. The recreational area was also to include a spa area with a sauna. We decided that since such a function is to appear in the newly-designed part of the building, it would be worthwhile to show it from the living room space - hence the proposal for a sizable glazing that divides the two zones, but at the same time connects them with a large sheet of glass.
The swimming pool occupies a sizable usable part of the house
© KA Architekci
From the beginning, our investors liked the idea of "modern barn" type buildings, hence the body of the newly designed building, along with the open space of the living room and dining room, mimics this form. The clients were afraid of the impression of too much open space, so capturing the right proportions was a key task for us. They also wanted a terrace that they could access directly from their pool (they jokingly called it their "beach"), as well as a covered space where they could spend time together in the beautiful garden. The clients also wanted to connect the house to the garden, hence the significant glazing in the west and south walls.
The architects took advantage of the existing slope of the land and undercut the entire new part of the block from the western side
© KA Architects
Dobrawa: Thanks to the unusual design, part of the house seems to float above the surface. How did you achieve this? What materials were used in the building?
KA Architects: In order to avoid the impression that the newly designed part of the building will be squat and heavy, we took advantage of the existing slope of the land and undercut the entire new part of the block from the west side. We obtained the impression of lightness of the building by using a monolithic cantilever structure, made entirely of reinforced concrete. We were able to achieve the aforementioned levitating effect of the building by taking advantage of the natural, terrain conditions and the fact that the existing building had a basement at ground level on the front side. The garden part was located on a gently rising terrain. We took advantage of this in such a way that we designed the first floor of the newly designed part at the same level as the so-called high first floor of the existing part.
To enhance the impression of a levitating house, we also introduced a play of strong contrasts. The existing building was covered with anthracite-colored sheet metal on both the roof and wall surfaces. The second body of the building was finished with white plaster and a white roof membrane. The black that flows seamlessly under the light part of the house deepens the impression of the building floating above the surface.
The existing building was covered with anthracite-colored sheet metal
© KA Architects
Dobrawa: Does such an expansion require more work than a project built "from scratch"? What difficulties did you encounter?
KA Architects: Definitely yes. When working on a project to expand or modernize a building, a very important stage of the work is to learn about the history, construction, materials of the building and inventory. In the case of the levitating house project, we were dealing with an existing residential building from the 1980s, and in order to carry out the expansion, we had to get a good understanding of its history and construction. With this type of project, it is important to respect the existing architecture. Don't demolish existing good solutions and adjust the new design to respect and preserve the genius loci of the existing place.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
