A 360-square-metre house has been built on a hillside in the Owl Mountains. Designed by ROST.STUDIO, the building is seamlessly integrated into the distinctive local landscape, and the materials – including charred wooden slats – have been chosen to create harmony with the surroundings. The house embodies the concept of tranquil, understated architecture, in which light, proportions and the building’s relationship with nature play the most important roles.
House in the Sowie Mountains
The building stretches along the hillside and emphasises the natural topography of the site. The distinct horizontal form gives the impression that the house is literally growing out of the ground. All its façades consist of dark, somewhat monochromatic surfaces finished with burnt wood slats. The deep-toned material serves as a calm backdrop to the garden’s greenery and the mountain landscape. Although the entire structure appears modern, it does not ignore the context of the Lower Silesia region and references the local architecture through its cuboid form topped with a high, gable roof.
The garden as part of the home’s interior
Large glass panels open the house up to interesting views and bring the mountain landscape into its interior. The boundary between the living space and the garden becomes blurred, making the living room a natural extension of the surrounding greenery. Daylight glides across the minimalist surfaces of the walls and floors, changing the atmosphere of the rooms throughout the day. As the sun moves, a subtle play of shadows emerges, introducing a touch of mysticism and further emphasising the house’s connection with nature.
The Dark House in the Owl Mountains
The building’s architecture is based on the properties and characteristics of the materials used here. Cool metal, the texture of plaster, burnt wood and smooth glass surfaces create a varied, tactile and visual composition. The house in the Owl Mountains is built on four levels adapted to the slope of the plot. The entrance from the lower part of the plot leads to the underground level, where a parking space is concealed. A winding staircase running through the garden greenery leads to the main entrance. The individual levels clearly separate the living, sleeping and service areas, whilst the circulation routes, which run through different parts of the building, allow one to discover successive views of the landscape whilst moving around the house.
Design: ROST.STUDIO
Year: 2025
Location: Sowie Mountains
Area: 360 sq m
Authors: Adam Stafiniak, Zuzanna Róg, Weronika Bednarska, Anna Głodek, Adam Struski
Photography: Maciej Lulko, Adam Stafiniak
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