On the edge of the forest, where the Drwęca River joins the Vistula and where the landscape bears traces of former Hollander and fishing settlements, a house has been built that does not pretend to dominate the surroundings, but complements them. The house designed by Kasper Łobocki of the Gaspard Łobocki Studio is blended into the landscape. It is a contemporary interpretation of the local tradition: economical in form, honest in the choice of materials and deeply rooted in the history of the place.
The house refers to the simplicity of old fishing and Hollander houses, drawing on their pragmatism of construction and unpretentious aesthetics. The massing remains compact; its scale and modest silhouette respect the rhythm of the place and the hand of the craftsman that shaped the local buildings over the centuries. The shape and layout of the rooms result from an analysis of the history of the region and the relationship with the site, rather than a desire for an architectural manifesto.
Form in the field
The building is inscribed into the natural slope of the plot on a gentle escarpment towards the Vistula. The lower storey is partly sunk into the ground and adopts a trapezoidal plan adapted to the relief of the terrain, while the upper storey retains a rectangular simplicity. As a result, from the level of the paths and meadows, the block often remains almost invisible – the subtle roof lines and dark façade blend in with the green and shady parts of the forest. The western retaining wall acts as a balustrade and frames the view; its horizontal plane extends the view over the Vistula valley.
Black façade as contemporary emblematics
The façade made of spruce, tanned using the shou sugi ban technique and protected with wax cream from Rubio Monocoat, evokes the memory of the tarred walls of Vistula River houses. Black here is not an empty gesture; it is a material that works at the scale of the site, responding to light and time of day. The arrangement of the planks, with the upper, narrower panels taking in the light and casting a soft shadow on the wider planks below, creates a chiaroscuro rhythm – the façade changes with the movement of the sun, revealing the texture of the wood and the subtle dynamics of the surface. The matt finish maintains the authenticity of the wood and allows it to ‘breathe’, while increasing durability against moisture and biological threats.
The design shows respect for local workshops and carpentry traditions. The wood is treated as a living material, subjected to a treatment that brings out its depth and texture rather than masking it.
Interior in a slow rhythm
The interiors are designed for slow, conscious use. The panoramic glazing directs the attention towards the Vistula valley and the trees; the light draws variable reflections on the walls, which become part of the narrative of the space. The colour palette remains natural and subdued, with stone and linen or cotton fabrics complementing the wooden surfaces. The central accent is a blue kitchen with a pantry made by local carpenters – the colour and material react to the light, evoking the changing waters of the river.
Landscape part of the building
The terrace above the carport seamlessly extends the living space outside and becomes a bridge between the house and the garden designed in the spirit of permaculture. Native species of trees, herbs and grasses contribute to the context in which the house seems to have existed for a long time. The dark background of the façade makes the block almost melt into the woods at dusk and night, and the frequent visits of wildlife are a reminder of the site’s close dependence on nature.
The Torun House is neither a replica of the past nor a manifesto of the present; rather, it is a quiet translation of local identity into the contemporary language of architecture. Its black, tan façade and streamlined form act as a way of reading the landscape – not disturbing it, but sensitising it to its layers. In Kasper Lobocki’s design, tradition meets contemporaneity without retouching, and material and craftsmanship engage in a conversation that should be listened to carefully.
Design: Gaspard Łobocki Studio
Author: Kasper Łobocki
Detailed design and documentation: BALD Architektura
Photographs: Magdalena-Kaleta
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