The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage Residential Architecture

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage is a house which was inspired by the Polish wooden arcade architecture. The search for regional features characteristic for single-family housing led us to discover forgotten traditional eaves houses of the region. The design was created in order to accommodate a 4-person family space, located on the unusual long and narrow plot of irregular shape. We separate as many as five different levels, legally falling within the definition of a two-storey building.

Dimensions & Packaging

Gutters and drainpipes were discreetly hidden in the roof and inside the outer walls. The garage door was finished with façade cladding which perfectly faced the façade of the house. In the open living area we eliminated traditional load-bearing pillars, replacing them with a steel structure integrated with divisions of window joinery, in order to create an open space, glazed along the entire length of the south elevation.

Tags

arcade architecture, Polish Eaves Cottage, Lanckorona, wooden architecture, cattage, Polish Design, Polish Architecture, architecture

Production Technology

The ground floor, which is modernist and entirely glazed from the south side, was finished with naturally patinating and aging wood, as seen in historical eaves houses. The contrasting, expressive form of the attic was finished with the use of modern material, Ruukki Classic roofing sheet, which defines the precise architectural detail.

Design Challenge

We followed the regulations stipulated in the Local Area and Development Plan, which only allowed for a two-storey building, where the second storey would be an attic, covered by a gable roof. In spite of restrictive regulations, we managed to create an interesting building structure, harmoniously integrated with the landscape. Moreover, the creative use of the topography let us separate as many as five different levels, legally falling within the definition of a two-storey building.

Project Duration

Design preparation works lasted from 2015 to 2017. Construction works started already in 2017 and were finished in 2020. The house was erected in polish village Zabierzów surrounded by forests with picturesquely shaped limestone rocks, springs and caves. The nearby hiking trails lead past old churches, ruins of castles and through landscape parks.

Operation Flow

A ground floor from the entrance is connected with the existing ground level. Then in the living area – kitchen and dining room – the level is slightly sloping, opening the high interiors onto the magnificent view. Further down, directly on the ground level, the living-room space is located. In the central part a multi-step drop is formed. It cuts through the glass pane and is continued outside. The inside part of the drop forms a multi-level auditorium or unusual guest space arrangement.

Research

The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage is a designer house, but in the same time it is durable and timeless, as it is firmly rooted in tradition…and in BXB studio we strongly believe that this is the factor which makes it something more than just another modern building.

Inspiration

The search for regional features characteristic for single-family housing led us to discover forgotten traditional eaves houses. An interesting example of such solutions are wooden structure historic houses located in the market square of Lanckorona. Protruding eaves, forming arcades in the frontage of the market square, are characteristic elements of the houses. In mountain areas eaves would follow the topography of the terrain, creating characteristic eaves stairs.

Image Credits

Image #1 : Photographer BXB studio, The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2020

Image #2 : Photographer BXB studio The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2020

Image #3 : Photographer Slawek Slusarczyk, The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2020

Image #4 : Photographer Slawek Slusarczyk, The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2020

Image #5 : Photographer Slawek Slusarczyk, The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2020

Video Credit: Unique Vision Studio Rafal Barnas, The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage, 2021

Patents

BXB studio Boguslaw Barnas

Colors of The Lesser Polish Eaves Cottage Residential Architecture

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