House for N+S in Puszczykowo by Michal Bekas of boaa in cooperation with Jan Ankiersztajn is an attempt to create a simple and timeless house for a modern young family who wants to live closer to nature and closer to themselves.
Home for N+S is a simple single-family house created for a young couple and their two young children who wanted to live closer to nature. The location in Puszczykowo, a small town near Poznan, made this possible. The plot of land with southern sun exposure on which the house was built is unique - there is a meadow full of flowers and insects, and in close proximity to the Wielkopolska National Park.
The house was reduced to a cubic form covered with an asymmetrical gabled roof
Photo: moiz.eu © boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
natural beauty
The main goal of the architects was to create such a building that would preserve the natural beauty of the plot and interfere as little as possible with the existing ecosystem. Therefore, the designers decided to place the house as close as possible to the northern and western borders of the plot, right next to the access road. In this way, the zone of entry and paved areas is small, so that in the southern part of the site a natural meadow is preserved.
The house is placed close to the northern and western borders of the plot
© boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
simple form
The external body of the building is deliberately simplified and has been reduced to a cubic form covered by an asymmetrical gabled roof. The layout of the roof and the angle of inclination of its southern slope of 30 degrees. This deliberate procedure guarantees good orientation of the photovoltaic panels in relation to the sun. The roof is covered with light-colored standing seam metal sheets in a natural color. The facade is an untreated spruce wood plank. The materials were chosen to be low-maintenance and to patina naturally over time, turning an increasingly gray hue.
The roof is covered with bright sheet metal, and the facade with spruce wood planks
Photo: moiz.eu © boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
In the two extreme corners of the building, the architects cut openings. One of them, being in the northwestern part, serves a public function - there is a covered entrance connected with an open garage for two cars. The southeastern part hides the private part - a large sunny terrace that is an extension of the living room and kitchen-dining room. The terrace is partially hidden under the roof, providing shade on hot days and cover when it rains. On the other hand, on the first floor, a balcony with direct access from the parents' bedroom was placed above the living room. It offers a view of a flowery meadow and a nearby forest.
The central and main element of the house is the kitchen
© boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
kitchen in the center
In accordance with the investors' wishes, the central and main element of the house is the kitchen. It is connected to the entrance hall, the living room, the dining room with a fireplace, and the entrance to the first floor. Behind the kitchen is a pantry and a technical room - an enclosed part of the garage. The first floor includes laundry rooms, two children's bedrooms - each with a mezzanine, a large parents' bedroom with a dressing room and balcony, a bathroom and a storage room behind the stairs.
The sunny terrace is partially obscured by the roof
Photo: moiz.eu © boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
pro-ecological design
The functional layout of the house has been subordinated to pro-ecological principles. All technical and storage functions are placed in the northern side of the building being virtually windowless. Rooms such as the guest room, living room, kitchen with dining room and all bedrooms have full southern orientation with huge glazing. This layout gives great energy gains in winter without generating heat loss in the northern part.
Huge glazings in the southern part of the building
Photo: noiz.eu © boaa, Jan Ankiersztajn
In order not to overheat the interiors in summer, all windows were equipped with facade blinds. In this way, on the public road side the building has a full façade, while it opens fully to the sunny east-south private part. The building is equipped with mechanical ventilation with recuperation and increased thermal performance of the partitions, windows and doors.
The house for N+S is taking part in the competition for the Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region (NAWW), where it could win the title of the most beautiful building in the province.
