An intimate development of five single-family houses is planned near Krakow, in the immediate vicinity of the Mammoth Cave. However, the uniqueness of this project does not end with the location - it reaches much further, as it goes all the way to the end of the alphabet. Houses marked with the letters V, W, X, Y and Z will form a unique alphabetical-architectural collection, in which each building will have an individual form and distinctive supports stylized on the letters assigned to it. This is not just an aesthetic endeavor, but a conscious decision by the developers that redefines the approach to planning and designing contemporary single-family architecture.
Each of the houses will be equipped with an individually designed "sail"
© Autograf studio
Sails among rocks and sunshine
The project site is located on the northern slope of a hill, which is usually a major design constraint. Here, however, it became an inspiration. The proximity of the Mammoth Cave and the characteristic shape of the plot led the architects to use an original spatial solution - the so-called sails. Each house will be equipped with an individually designed "sail", which will serve a double function. First, it will be a lighting element for the interiors of the buildings - the south-facing layout will allow maximum use of daylight. Secondly, the sails will create optical frames for the entrance to the Mammoth Cave, making it an important part of the scenery of residents' daily lives.
Sunlight scheme for houses V, W, X, Y and Z
© Autograf studio
The sails, although formally reminiscent of sailing structures, will not catch the wind, but the light. As a result, the interiors will be naturally illuminated, and residents will have the impression of constant contact with the surrounding nature. This solution is not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing - the houses will literally float above the slope, resting on perpendicular blocks and slender supports.
An intimate estate of five single-family houses is planned near Krakow, in the immediate vicinity of the Mammoth Cave
© Autograf studio
Last letters, first step towards individuality
The choice of the letters V, W, X, Y and Z as designations for the houses is not accidental. The architects decided to consciously move away from the usual patterns, in which houses within a single estate look almost identical. Instead, each building will differ in size, shape, the way it is embedded in the terrain, the view from the windows and the form of the supports. And these - are precisely the characteristic letters of the alphabet. The result will be the architectural equivalent of words - as letters create meanings, so these houses will create a coherent, yet diverse story of modern habitation. This is not the replication of patterns, but design by individuality.
A model of the estate seen from a bird's eye view
© Autograf studio
Such a decision symbolizes a departure from standards and an affirmation of a creative approach to design. Instead of repetitive modules, we have five unique buildings - five chapters of a single, consistently realized concept. The form of the supports will not only make the blocks dynamic, but also directly relate to the letters assigned to them - creating a kind of visual alphabet inscribed in the landscape.
Each building will have an individual form and characteristic supports stylized on the letters assigned to it
© Autograf studio
From V to Z - five houses, five stories
Each of the houses comprising the development will differ not only in form and layout, but also in floor space. The smallest of them, House V, has 110 square meters. Another, House W, already offers 150 square meters of space. House X is 160 square meters, while House Y is 170. The largest of the five, House Z, is as large as 210 square meters. The total usable area of all five buildings will be 800 square meters. The diversity of square meters goes hand in hand with a unique approach to each building. Each house - while consistent with the rest - is to maintain an autonomous character, making the estate not only compositionally harmonious, but also flexible in terms of use.
Sketch of one of the five buildings
© Autograf studio
Creators with passion - architecture as experiment and story
Behind the concept of Houses V, W, X, Y, Z is Autograf Studio - a Krakow-based architecture studio founded in 2006 by Marcin Galas and Tomasz Smuga. From the beginning, the architects have focused on a creative approach and experimentation in design, with the individual needs of the users and the spatial context being most important to them.
The view from the buildings will vary
© Autograf studio
Homes that are ahead of the curve
The DOM V, W, X, Y, Z estate is not just an architectural curiosity - it is a manifesto of a contemporary approach to the design of residential space. Instead of fitting into market schemes, the architects propose a bold alternative, in which form arises from place, and function is a response to the needs of the residents. It's architecture that not only looks good, but also inspires - encouraging people to think, explore and live in spaces that matter.
