The main aim of the redevelopment project of the approximately 100-year-old ‘Chief Forester’s House’, located on the edge of the picturesque Drawsko Forest, was to open the building to the sun, the garden and the nearby forest. The client wanted these three elements – sunlight, the greenery of the garden and the natural beauty of the forest – to become an integral part of the house, creating a space full of comfort and harmony.
The scope of the commission for Tomasz Mielczyński of TXMA office included the adaptation of an unused attic for residential purposes, creating three new bedrooms with sanitary facilities and a meditation room with a view of the forest. The entire existing functional layout of the building required a complete redesign to accommodate the logic of the sun’s daily migration. The architect concentrated his efforts on the east and south-east sides of the house. It was there that a new kitchen with a garden dining area was designed, as well as a master bedroom with a panoramic window, which was fitted with a deep seating area, allowing the occupants to take full advantage of the natural light and enjoy the picturesque views.
“The Forester’s House” is also intended to serve as a workplace for the owners. A study and a library are planned for the north-western part of the building, which will provide a quiet and comfortable working environment. Close to the house are the remains of the former farm cellar, which will be rebuilt. A recreational shed with a summer kitchen will be placed on its ceiling, which will further enhance the outdoor recreational space. The area around the house will be landscaped as an orchard and forest garden, managed according to permaculture principles. This layout will not only aesthetically enrich the space, but will also contribute to the ecological and sustainable functioning of the entire surroundings.
In order to preserve the original character of the façade, it was decided to insulate the existing ground floor walls with pressed straw boards over which new clay plasters will be applied. Capillary heating mats will be embedded in the thickness of these plasters, ensuring that the building is heated efficiently and ecologically. The roof structure will be largely replaced, with new roofing made of solid wood panels and wood fibre insulation. In addition, the building will be equipped with a ventilation system controlled by the humidity and carbon dioxide levels in the interiors, which will ensure the right microclimate and and safety for the residents.
With a modern approach to ecology and sustainability, the new ‘Forestry House’ will become an example of the harmonious combination of tradition and modernity, creating an ideal place to live and work on the edge of the picturesque Drawsko Forest.
Source: TXMA – Tomasz aleXander Mielczyński ARCHITECT
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