Forest Gazebo is a small house of thirty square meters by ENDE studio marcin lewandowicz. The wooden house seems to levitate above the ground thanks to a foundation of beams and an overhanging terrace, while its dark Scandinavian spruce facade blends with the forest landscape of the surrounding Notecka Forest. Meet the private retreat of architect Marcin Lewandowicz.
Forest Gazebo is a small house of 30 square meters.
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
The Forest Gazebo was designed in a light enough form that it was possible to dismantle and change the location. The frames of the wooden structure were filled on the west side with windows facing the surrounding meadows - the house is open only in this direction. While you are away, the modular shutters can be used to cover the window openings - thus creating a monolithic wooden container.
The house after closing the shutters
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
In the interior, the architect placed a bedroom, a living room with a kitchenette, a bathroom and separated storage space in the form of lockers and closets. Forest Gazebo is year-round, in the colder months you can use electric heating or a wood stove.
inside there is a bedroom, living room with kitchenette, bathroom and storage space
© ENDE marcin lewandowicz
Dobrawa Bies: The Forest Gazebo fits into the surrounding landscape. You have to look closely to spot it among the trees. What were your design priorities?
Marcin Lewandowicz: The most important thing for me was to interfere as little as possible with the landscape and the surrounding greenery. The house, due to the dimensions of the terraces, could not be prefabricated and brought to the site. So, it was important to me that it be quickly and smoothly assembled on site. It was intended to take a few days, but of course life showed that the slippage dragged on for four weeks. The carpentry/carpentry team suffered heavily in the meantime from the cold rain and snow, as the implementation was in January 2021. They had to be brought restorative meals and socialized around the ever-burning campfire. Fortunately, there is no shortage of wood in the area, as the cottage is located in the Notec Forest.
The terrace surrounds the whole cottage
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
Dobrawa: Modular construction, wooden beams and a long terrace are features of the house. Please tell us about the materials and work.
Marcin Lewandowicz: I had more than a dozen projects prepared in advance, but commissioning them was beyond the capabilities of the contractors or my financial capabilities. The repetitive nature of the structural frames and housing details made it possible to reduce costs somewhat, and theoretically at least speed up the implementation. We also did without heavy transport equipment. KVH structural timber and Scandinavian spruce were used for the facade and interior cladding. The insulation is open-cell polyurethane foam.
The color scheme of the interior was to be natural and monochromatic
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
Dobrawa: The interior of the Forest Gazebo is also made of natural and bright materials, and the arrangement allows for use by four people. What was the design of the interior like?
Marcin Lewandowicz: The design of the interior function assumed that we would use the cottage together with my wife. Of course, additional family and guests can be accommodated. It will comfortably sleep up to four people, but on New Year's Eve we intend to investigate what, is the maximum occupancy. In case of a larger number of guests, there is always the possibility of unfolding the tipi, which is on the permanent equipment of the house. The color scheme was to be natural and as monochromatic as possible , hence the light spruce boards on the walls ceiling and floor and contrasting graphite furniture. The grays break the scheme gently and soften the effect. The whiteness of the tiles in the bathroom seems on the one hand practical in use and on the other hand minimalist and simple.
The walls are covered with spruce boards
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
Dobrawa: For whom was the Forest Gazebo built?
Marcin Lewandowicz: It is a project created for our own pleasure... The pleasure of designing and using and arriving at the place where we have spent our vacations for almost thirty years. On the one hand, a sentimental realization, on the other hand, a place of practical respite from the problems of everyday life. Perhaps in the distant future a second retirement home.
Forest Gazebo was created for the architect's own pleasure
photo: Przemyslaw Turlej © ENDE marcin lewandowicz
Dobrawa: What were the design difficulties, and what are you most satisfied with?
Marcin Lewandowicz: I erased the difficulties from my memory because of the number of positives resulting from the possibility of using nature without temperature and time constraints. The people of Altan-bud from Srem I can recommend to anyone, and there were relatively few warranty defects. I'm satisfied with the fact of having an asylum, and on a micro level with the fact that it managed not to ruin too much the forest undergrowth and the surrounding anthill. It has also been possible to enlist the help of local companies and people on many issues.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
