Its design was prepared by architects from the MOKAA studio. The single-family house is located in Kraków. The building is heavily glazed, thus combining architecture, interior and garden into a coherent, multidimensional whole. The subtle play of light and materials makes the boundary between inside and outside almost blur. In the building, even the garage has become an integral part of the interior.
The house was built on a plot of 10 acres. The architects from the MOKAA studio opted for original solutions, thanks to which nature permeates the interior in almost every room.
We wanted to open up the house as much as possible to nature, while at the same time maintaining the privacy of the residents. The beautiful view of the river from the first floor determined the reversal of the typical functional layout – this is where we placed the living zone and the bedroom,” explains Anna Lorenz, architect and owner of the MOKAA studio.
Refined in every detail
The body of the building is clearly divided into two levels: the massive, darker upper body and the light, glazed ground floor. Vertical panels heighten the impression of lightness, while at the same time ordering the rhythm of the façade and providing privacy for the residents. Some of the panels are black movable louvres, discreetly integrated into the facade. The design consciously combines form, function and modern technology.
Every inch of the plot has been designed with the comfort of the residents in mind. The garden has become a natural extension of the house – a place to relax, meet and observe the change of seasons. The representative entrance axis is marked by a path made of concrete slabs drawn into the greenery, a deliberate prologue leading to the interior. The space acts as a secret passage into a private world.
The central accent of the composition is the birch tree, symbolically incorporated into the layout of the space and visible from most of the rooms.
We designed the space so that greenery can be seen from everywhere in the house – regardless of the season. This gives the residents the feeling of being close to nature even in the heart of the city,” emphasises Anna Lorenz.
The terrace on the first floor and the glass-enclosed living room create an open zone that can be fully integrated with the outside. The swimming pool, on the other hand, whose surface almost “flows” under the building, becomes a compositional element, reflecting the light and the body of the house. This solution required a great deal of technological precision, but the result, says the architect, was well worth it.
Discreet luxury
The architects call the house Inside Out Villa. The building is a manifesto of the quiet luxury philosophy that MOKAA consistently develops in their projects. Natural materials dominate: stone, wood, glass, soft fabrics and neutral colours. There is nothing haphazard or flashy here – every detail is subordinated to the idea of harmony and comfort.
For us, Quiet luxury is not a style, but a way of thinking about space. It is a design that gives a sense of calm, quality and balance. Here, luxury is expressed in silence, light and the touch of natural materials, ” says Anna Lorenz.
The interior architecture has been shaped around the daily rhythm of the household members – a couple whose adult children visit mainly at weekends. The upper floor serves as a private asylum for the owners, while the ground floor has a representative and recreational function. On the ground floor, relaxation zones overlooking the garden and a leisure space visually linked to the garage have been designed, acting as the investor’s private ‘men’s asylum’.
Technology and comfort
Inside Out Villa is an example of the thoughtful implementation of technology to enhance comfort and energy efficiency. The house is equipped with a heat pump, recuperation and wall ventilation. Advanced automation manages the lighting, blinds and illumination of the garden, making it easy to create atmospheric lighting scenes to suit the time of day and occasion.
With a floor space of 400 square metres, the house has been thoughtfully divided into zones – from intimate to communal – so that each has a specific function. On the first floor, a living area, a master bedroom with dressing room and private bathroom and a guest room with bathroom are planned. The living area has been moved to the first floor to take maximum advantage of the most beautiful view from the north. The ground floor is designed as a lounge area open to the garden and to the glazed garage, creating a seamless connection between inside and outside.
Opening onto the garage from the lounge and event space was the owner’s dream – such a man cave. The garage is divided into two zones – the everyday one, hidden behind sliding wooden slats, and the occasional one, glazed onto the living room, adds the architect.
The character of the interiors is built up by large glazings, natural light and smooth transitions between functions. Everything is subordinated to the idea of comfort – here every detail, from the height of the rooms to the positioning of the lighting, has been precisely thought out so that the space “guides” the user in a natural way.
The interiors use a muted, natural palette: beiges, greys and warm tones of wood and stone. Minimalist furniture silhouettes are balanced by soft fabrics and delicate details, which together create an atmosphere of tranquillity. Light – natural and artificial – plays a key role, interspersed through large glazings and linear and concealed lighting sources, allowing the mood of the interior to be modelled on the rhythm of the day. Each zone – from the living room to the terrace to the private bathrooms – retains a distinct character, and together they tell a coherent story of a home understood as a daily ritual of comfort and aesthetics.
Inside Out Villa is the quintessence of the MOKAA philosophy – a combination of function, aesthetics and emotion. It is a home where the architecture does not dominate the human being, but creates the perfect background for him or her to live in. Open to light, integrated with nature, designed for everyday comfort.
For us, design is the art of listening and translating needs into the language of space. Every home we create is different, but they always have one thing in common – a sense of calm, quality and refinement. We believe that true luxury is everyday living, where everything works as it should, ” concludes Anna Lorenz.
design: MOKAA
photography: Tom Kurek
Also read: villas and residences | single-family house | Krakow | Modernism | Interiors | whiteMAD on Instagram
