Hidden among tall pines, almost invisible from the outside, it blends into the forest surroundings as if it had always been there. The house near Bolimow is the latest project by Warsaw-based studio EXTERIO. - an architectural realization that not only respects the natural context of the place, but even allows it to take over the leading role. The emerging seasonal residence, despite its impressive area of more than 300 square meters, avoids monumentality. Instead, it offers a subtle, almost camouflage-like presence in the landscape, the rhythm and colors of which have determined all major design decisions.
House near Bolimow - a project that redefines the concept of integration with the environment
© EXTERIO
The forest as a starting point
Bolimów, located on the edge of the Bolimowski Landscape Park, is a place where nature is not the background - it is the main character. Deciduous and coniferous forests, densely overgrowing this part of Mazovia, create not only a landscape, but also a microclimate, a rhythm of light and a space for contemplation. When planning the construction of the seasonal house, the investors were clear from the start: the house should be present but unobtrusive; functional but not dominant; open, but giving a sense of intimacy. Exterio architects responded to these needs - their design not only respects the forest context, but even becomes an extension of it.
Composition of many solids: architecture in the rhythm of nature
Instead of one compact block, an ensemble of several interconnected buildings was designed, reminiscent of a small cottage complex. Each of them has a simple, archetypal form with a gabled roof - familiar from rural construction, but here reinterpreted in a contemporary way. The blocks intermingle, intersect and merge under shared canopies, creating a sequence of spaces - from semi-open passageways to intimate atriums to glazed living areas. This solution not only breaks up the scale of the building, but also gives it a rhythm - in keeping with the natural arrangement of the trees, their placement and the direction of light. Each part of the house blends in with its surroundings as if it had always been there.
House near Bolimow - the tree at the heart of the house is not a decorative effect, but a consequence of the design philosophy - a space subordinated to nature
© EXTERIO
Materials that refuse to shine
One of the project's greatest strengths is its matter of expression - a conscious, thoughtful choice of materials and colors. The facades are covered with dark wooden slats, which allude to the bark of the surrounding trees. Matte, subdued surfaces absorb light instead of reflecting it. The wood - used not only as cladding, but also as material for openwork structures around the windows - has both an aesthetic and practical function. The aforementioned window "blinds" are not decoration. Their function is tofilter light, protect against overheating in summer and provide privacy. Combined with large glazings on the garden side, they form a system that does not isolate the interior from the exterior, but consciously regulates the relationship between the two.
House near Bolimow - project plan
© EXTERIO
Space divided, but coherent
The functional layout of the house is based on a logical division into living and recreational zones, separated by a centrally located, representative entrance "portal". The largest block hides the living area - with a spacious living room on the first floor and bedrooms on the first floor. The rooms are bathed in daylight, filtered through a thicket of trees and a system of glazing. The smaller blocks contain recreational spaces: a gym, saunas, a Jacuzzi and a zen room - a zone designed as a place of tranquility, contemplation and regeneration. Despite the clear functional division, the whole remains coherent thanks to homogeneous aesthetics, the rhythm of the blocks and repetitive material details.
House near Bolimow - view from the garden side
© EXTERIO
Architecture with respect
One of the most distinctive and at the same time symbolic solutions in the project is the courtyard, where a growing tree was left. Instead of removing natural landscape elements, the architects decided to honor them - they arranged the space around them. Trees growing close to the walls almost touch the facade, their presence is felt in every room. The house not only stands in the forest - it lives with the forest. Architect Marcin Klukowski, co-founder of the Exterio studio, stresses that the key goal was symbiosis with the environment.
The greatest value of the site is the trees, so there was no question of cutting down some of them
- adds the architect.
House near Bolimow - in this project the materials do not compete with the environment
© EXTERIO
Privacy and light protection
The project clearly differentiates the elevations. On the garden side, the house is transparent, full of openings and glazing. On the road side - more closed, protecting the privacy of the householders. Massive, uniform exterior walls act as a protective shield, providing peace and intimacy. In this way, architecture becomes a tool for consciously managing the relationship with the environment - both in the landscape and social context.
The architecture of silence
The house near Bolimow is an example of design in which less is more. There are no gestures for show, flashy solutions or publicity-seeking. Instead, there is mature architecture, sensitive to context, respectful of nature and human needs. This is a space designed not to boast about it - but to relax in it. Exterio's realization reminds us of the power of designs that are quiet but full of content. About the fact that good architecture is not the one that attracts the eye - but the one that allows you to look further.
