A project was developed in the Architecture programme at the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology, which shows that a student’s semester assignment can become much more than an academic exercise. Kacper Kucza, working on the concept of a housing estate as part of the course “Architectural design – design of multi-family complexes and residential buildings”, set himself an ambitious goal: to create a development that would not dominate the area, but would allow local greenery to continue to play a key role. The result is a vision of light, glass-covered buildings floating above the ground, open to light and the surroundings, yet designed with respect for the natural conditions of the site.
The architectural design presents the concept of a residential estate consisting of five multi-family buildings, built in integration with the local greenery located on the plot. The challenge was to design a housing estate whose structure would not lead to the clearing of local green areas, which translated into a relatively low building density. In order to avoid this, dendrological analyses, site surveys and weather condition analyses were carried out to ensure that the site was safe for development and that there was no risk of flooding.
The buildings are completely glazed from the outside and also from the inside thanks to the designed atrium, in order to make the most effective use of available sunlight. As a result, the building is illuminated even from the inside, which allows for partial energy savings and at the same time strengthens the user’s visual relationship with the surroundings even inside the building. The idea behind the design was to create a free, airy layout, starting at the base of the building and continuing on the upper floors. Thanks to the column structure, it was possible to raise the ground floor above ground level, which, at the right angle, creates the illusion of a levitating structure inscribed in the green landscape. The ground floor itself is equipped with glass boxes available to residents, serving as flexible functional spaces. Each of them has a system of sliding walls that allows the space to be freely shaped as desired or completely opened up to the surroundings.
Ensuring such openness and continuous access to the landscape was the main idea behind the design. For this reason, the remaining floors of the building feature a layout of two corridors which, in addition to providing access to the flats, extend from balcony to balcony on opposite sides of the building, giving the illusion of openness and a sense of flow. Regardless of the direction they are looking, residents can always maintain contact with their surroundings and natural light. All flats are surrounded by spacious balconies extending across the entire width of the building, with sliding walls that allow for partial or complete separation from neighbouring residents. Thanks to these solutions, it is possible to open up the living areas of the flats seasonally, further expanding the space.
The building’s façades have been designed in a minimalist aesthetic, with glazed balcony balustrades. There are also rhythmic trusses made of white panels, which can serve as sunshades, while also allowing climbing plants to grow if residents so desire, reinforcing the ecological character of the development.
Building structure: The structure of the building refers to the idea of an open plan to freely create interior space. The ground floor of the building has been raised and serves as an entrance area with glass boxes that function as a common space for residents. They can use them according to their needs and time. Thanks to the elevation and glazing, the building seems to float above the ground from certain perspectives, blending in with the local greenery and harmoniously fitting into the landscape.
design: Kacper Kucza
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