On a peninsula in the middle of a large lake – in an almost unreal location – the NOKE designers have realised a unique architectural concept. In an intimate ensemble of holiday homes, they proposed an attractive alternative to the popular “barn house” model. They combined materials, forms and, above all, the proportions of the building with prefabricated timber technology. They took care of every aspect, right down to the interior details.
Pasym is a picture-postcard town. Above the red roofs of the townhouses tower the towers of the churches and town hall, and the picturesque panoramas are reflected in the waters of as many as three lakes. The views are best enjoyed from the extensive Ostrów peninsula, which extends far into the largest of these bodies of water – Kalwa. It is here, at the very end of the peninsula, that a new Masurian settlement was established, one that is both very traditional and revolutionary in several important respects. Why?
– Our aim was to create a new archetype of a Masurian habitat. A house linked to the landscape in terms of views, built from natural materials and harmonising with the traditional buildings of the region ,” says Karol Pasternak of NOKE. – We wanted to create an alternative to the ‘barn house’ type popular in Poland, which is excessively upscale and essentially alienated from its surroundings,” adds Piotr Maciaszek. The result of the work are houses rooted in local tradition and firmly rooted in the natural and cultural landscape, although thoroughly modern.
A good plan. Urban planning
The groundwork for this project was prepared by a conscious, ambitious investor. – Inspired by realisations seen abroad, he took the bold decision to sell not just plots of land, but also finished, well-designed houses. He knew that such actions could give the right direction to the next developments, already outside his area of operation. He wanted a coherent, harmonious development to be created in this unique area ,” reports Karol Pasternak.
The extensive site has been divided into nine generous plots of around 3,000m2 each. The plots are clustered around restored and designed small ponds. The boundaries have been drawn so that the houses can stand at a distance from each other while taking up space on the hills. This provides them with an attractive exposure, including views from the balcony over the surface of the Kalwa River.
The loose housing, characteristic of exclusive daisas rather than popular holiday homes, creates the perfect conditions for relaxation away from the traffic and bustle. Seemingly outside civilisation, although still with easy access to all its achievements. And above all amidst nature, in delightful proximity to an extremely picturesque lake.
A new archetype. Architecture
Both the proportions and the character of the building were suggested to the architects by an analysis of Masurian farms. Their components – house, stable, cowshed, barn – were pushed together as if to form a functional and aesthetic whole. The result is a varied, multi-element mass, new, but familiar and close thanks to its shapes (including the proportions of the walls to the roof or the slope of its slopes) and materials.
Each segment of the house corresponds to a different function. The top section houses two bathrooms, a kitchen, a utility room and a staircase leading to a mezzanine – a place to work or a space for a guest. The wing facing the kitchen is the living area, with a vestibule, a dressing room and an extensive living room. On the opposite side, next to the large bathroom, there is a segment housing two bedrooms. The distance between them, as well as the distance from the living room, ensures quiet when relaxing. The garage gazebo – a travesty of a barn – stands out with its openwork planking.
The interiors total 115 sq m, but appear much more spacious. The functional layout with a central wet-room complex, which can be walked around with wide glass corridors, plays an important role here. Huge windows invite the landscape inside and let in plenty of light. The space, although essentially intimate, thus appears noticeably larger.
However, the house opens up widely to its surroundings with more than just glazing. – Porches, verandas and covered terraces were an important component of old country house architecture. They have disappeared with the passing of time, and we have taken a fresh look at them to extend the enjoyment of the house in the Masuria region,” explains Karol Pasternak. – The canopies allow contact with nature even in less favourable weather. They encourage you to read a book on the balcony when it’s raining or enjoy the cool shade on the terrace on hot days,” he adds.
The realisation in Pasym was an opportunity for NOKE to work with prefabricated timber house technology. The structure was thus made of wood, and the facades were covered with clinker tiles and structural mineral plaster. – The qualities of a prefabricated timber house can also be felt inside, in the air. The natural materials work, they breathe, which makes the smell of such a house very pleasant, even when you look inside after a long absence,” describes Piotr Maciaszek.
Natural charm. Interiors
According to the same principle, the NOKE designers selected materials, colours and forms for the interior of the house. This is important, because the uniform character of the whole translates into a soothing sense of harmony of the whole establishment and a feeling of spaciousness of the house itself. The walls of the house are thus covered with a structural mineral plaster painted with mineral paint. Plywood appears on some of the ceilings, and there is also solid wood. The flooring in all rooms is made of microcement, which is resistant to intensive use, although friendly in appearance.
The local yet modern rustic character of the house is underlined by the simplicity of the furnishings. The warmth of minimalism is perfectly expressed by curtains made of Polish linen, hung on curtain rods forged by a local blacksmith – also the author of some of the lamps and mirror frames. The warmth of the talented craftsmen’s hands also emanates from the other elements of the arrangement. This is emphasised by the range of expressive textures, structures or weaves.
The character of the interiors is given by the solid oak furniture, which is beautiful and durable. Most of it was designed by the NOKE team, but Pasym is home to works by a whole plethora of contemporary Polish designers. The “Kos” chair and the “Oka” ceramic table by Nurt were designed by Maja Ganszyniec. The “Apolin” lamp is the work of Grynasz Studio. Mirrored vases “Oko” by Malwina Konopacka can also be seen in the interiors. The relief paintings designed by Ola Niepsuj for the Ludism brand play an important role here. The same illustrator is the author of the motifs adorning the glasses of the Lazise company. Like the entire setting at Lake Kalwa, such unique details also encourage one to celebrate every free moment like a work of art.
NOKE Architects design team : Piotr Maciaszek, Karol Pasternak, Marcin Sudnik, Mateusz Jaworski, Maksymilian Tkacz; interior design collaboration: Paulina Cziba
Styling: Karol Pasternak
Photography: Piotr Maciaszek
See also: Architecture | Summerhouse | Greenery | Hotel | Architecture in Poland
