On the edge of the Wielkopolski National Park, on a long, narrow plot in Mosina near Poznań, a 254 m² detached house has been built, designed by Studio Gab. This is a project in which the architects have consciously harnessed the site’s potential – light, mature trees and the natural topography – to create a home tailored to the residents’ lifestyle, whilst ensuring its scale does not dominate the local landscape.
The starting point for the design was to maximise natural light in the living spaces and to integrate the extensive functional programme into a narrow, elongated plot bordering a national park. The solution was a form comprising three overlapping, angled volumes. This arrangement not only allowed for the optimal use of daylight but also for a subtle fragmentation of the building’s mass, ensuring that the house does not dominate its surroundings.
Green surroundings
Before design work began, the plot was densely covered with trees. The architects decided to preserve as much of the existing mature trees as possible, which influenced the layout of the development. The main body of the house was separated from the carport, creating a semi-open entrance area between them, featuring a terrace, a study and a workshop. Three tall pine trees were left standing in the centre of this area, providing natural shade and visually organising the space. A similar approach was taken in the garden – the terrace was laid out to incorporate the existing trees, which the client now uses as a natural backdrop for his DIY projects.
The entrance to the house, concealed behind a break in the building’s form, leads through a door clad in copper sheet into the entrance area. The main circulation axis runs along the grey brick wall – an element that visually unifies the entire space. The fireplace and chimney, made from the same brick, protrude clearly beyond the roofline on the garden side.
A home for everyday living
On the ground floor, right by the entrance, there is a study which also serves as a guest room. Further along is the parents’ bedroom, whose windows face north. This layout reflects the client’s lifestyle – she is a doctor working irregular hours. The bedroom is separated from the living area by a walk-in wardrobe and a large bathroom, ensuring adequate soundproofing and privacy.
The living area has been divided into two parts: the kitchen with dining area and the lounge area. The varying heights and angles of the roofs create interiors that differ in terms of acoustics and character. The lower section (the kitchen and dining area) thus gains a more intimate atmosphere. Its size reflects the client’s passion for cooking, whilst the materials – oak cabinet fronts, a quartzite worktop and clinker brick flooring – lend the interior durability and a timeless quality.
The lounge area, which juts out furthest towards the garden, benefits from maximum natural light. The centrepiece is a massive grey-brick fireplace, which forms a recess by the window with a bench serving as a place to relax. Additional light streams in through the open staircase leading to the first floor.
Wood almost everywhere
An oak-planked staircase leads to the children’s shared living room, separated from the stairwell by a glass partition. This provides additional light and visual contact between the floors. Upstairs, there are also two children’s bedrooms and a small bathroom. Oak planks have been used throughout the house, echoing the character of classic tenement floors. The utility areas, entrance areas and those bordering the terrace have been finished with clinker tiles, which emphasise their function.
The façade consists of horizontally laid Scandinavian spruce planks, protected with natural wood tar. Laid on edge, they create a richer pattern on the façade and protect it from the elements. A distinctive feature is the wall corners, cut at a 45-degree angle.
The house utilises renewable energy sources – heating is provided by a ground-source heat pump, and the system is supported by photovoltaic panels.
A project built on trust
The house in Mosina was built for a family close to the designers, in collaboration with contractors open to non-standard solutions. During construction, numerous mock-ups of details were created, enabling informed aesthetic and technical decisions to be made. Thanks to this, and with the client’s full trust, the project was successfully brought to fruition, resulting in a design where timelessness and quality take precedence over passing fashions. It is a house that not only meets the needs of its inhabitants but also blends into the unique surroundings of the national park in a mature and responsible manner.
design: Studio Gab
team: Katarzyna Osipowicz-Grabowska, Piotr Grabowski
photography: Nate Cook Photography
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