Single-Storey Ark-Like House On A Hillside

This house was designed by architect Robert Konieczny on a hillside in southern Poland and the main objective of the project was to make the most of the spectacular view. That’s why the architect decided on a single-storey ark-styled dwelling incorporating a glazed facade that frames the landscape.

The building pivots away from the slope so that an area accommodating the bedrooms is elevated to first-floor height. Only a corner containing the entrance rests on the hillside. This corner incorporates a drawbridge which, along with a sliding wall, can completely conceal the full-height windows and narrow deck along this side of the building.

Lifting the building off the hillside also limits potential damage by landslides and allows rainwater runoff to funnel underneath, lending it a boat-like quality. This solution required the house to be perched on three supporting walls, which are hidden behind angled surfaces that echo the shape of the roof.

Structural concrete is used for all of the facades to reduce costs, while the roof is covered with a waterproof membrane that looks just like the concrete and gives the building a homogenous feel. Spray-on insulating foam was applied to all the internal surfaces to ensure the interior remains warm. The material is left exposed in some of the rooms to add a tactile quality to walls and ceilings. The house’s position within a large pasture led the architect to minimize any landscaping that would disrupt the grazing of farm animals, which are able to use the building for shelter from the weather.

Lighting integrated at the base of the house illuminates it from below, accentuating its floating feeling. A second drawbridge incorporated into the underside of the soffit provides access to a basement where a lawnmower and other equipment is stored. Get pics of this unique house below and enjoy!