A development comprising ten detached houses, Borków 58, designed by the RMK.A architectural practice, has been completed in Warsaw. This intimate development, based on an asymmetrical semi-detached layout, stands out for its well-thought-out urban structure and contemporary approach to form. The project aimed to create architecture with a distinct spatial articulation that simultaneously enhances the comfort of everyday use.
A layout tailored to the space
The houses are arranged along a central access route, alternating on the left and right-hand sides. This layout has created a harmonious development in which the individual buildings complement one another. The last of the houses was rotated relative to the others to close the visual axis and respond to the existing urban context. Exits from some of the buildings were designed on the side façades; this, combined with the offset positioning of the opposing structures, opened up the corners and lent the space a sense of lightness.
Recreation for residents
One of the design challenges was the inability to drive straight through the development, due to the site’s ownership structure. The architects resolved this issue by designing a turning area at the end of the internal road. A communal recreational area, accessible to all residents of the estate, was created in the corner of the plot. Infrastructure elements – parking spaces, rubbish bins and utility boxes – were positioned between the buildings, ensuring that the front façades remained free of technical fixtures.
Contemporary form
The houses are positioned with their gable ends facing the access road, creating a cohesive character for the entire development. The sloping roofs, required by the planning permission conditions, are broken up by three-dimensional recesses that ensure residents’ privacy. Similar spatial elements feature on the ground-floor terraces, forming a natural extension of the living area. The window frames emphasise the depth of the façades, whilst the asymmetrical shape of the buildings lends them a contemporary, geometric character.
Each half of the semi-detached house has a different room layout, individually designed façades and distinctive recesses. The layout comprises a spacious living area, a vestibule connected to the garage, and service areas for the building – a toilet, a pantry and a utility recess. As a result, the interiors are designed not only to be comfortable but also to meet the residents’ day-to-day needs.
design: RMK.A
team: Roderyk Milik, Paweł Lis, Monika Kubacka, Ina Charniauskaya
photographs: Nate Cook
See also: Detached house | Warsaw | Recommended | Minimalism | whiteMAD on Instagram
