The Slope House project in Włocławek, designed by Source Architecture, was inspired by the constraints imposed by local regulations. The result is a highly distinctive, single-storey house with a sloping roof that blends seamlessly into the landscape. The 269 m² building was designed by Artur Baranowski and Ivan Boltulenis.
Architecture shaped by regulations
The design of the house arose from the requirement to use a traditional pitched roof. The architects treated this stipulation as inspiration to create an unusual form. The roof of Slope House does not end at the walls, but extends beyond their outline and slopes down towards the ground. This blurs the boundaries between the building’s structure, the roof and the surrounding landscape. From the street, the building gives the impression of an almost sculptural form. The white façades, finished with grooved fibre-cement panels, create a calm and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The entrance is concealed amongst the sloping surfaces, guiding residents and guests through a narrow passageway that separates the outside world from the private space.
The Slope House courtyard as the heart of life
Behind the rather austere façade lies the expansive interior of Slope House and its heart: the private courtyard. This patch of greenery lets light into the depths of the building and opens it up to nature. The inner courtyard also defines the functional layout of the house. On one side are the garage and utility rooms; on the other, the private area with the bedrooms. Between them lies a spacious living area comprising the kitchen, dining room and lounge. Large sliding windows open up the interior onto the terrace and garden, merging them into a single, versatile space.
A roof you can walk on
The sloping roof is a striking feature from which the building takes its name. Rather than serving merely as a typical shelter, the roof becomes a raised area accessible to the residents. This has created an additional recreational space, serving as a terrace, a meeting place, a viewing point or an open-air cinema. This unusual idea by the architects also had a practical rationale. Initially, the house was planned to be built further back on the plot, but local restrictions forced it to be moved closer to the street. In response to this necessity, Artur Baranowski and Ivan Boltulenis created an artificial hill, which allows one to admire the orchard and the panorama of the Vistula valley from an elevated vantage point.
The wooden structure of Slope House
The number of materials used was limited to a few carefully selected elements. Slope House is characterised by white render, grooved panels on the façade, light-coloured concrete, silvery flashings and large panes of glass. Thanks to this composition, light and shadow emphasise the building’s changing geometry throughout the day. The house was built using timber-frame construction, which kept construction costs reasonable despite the roof’s complex shape. This solution facilitated the creation of unusual surfaces, shortened the construction time and reduced the project’s carbon footprint. Inside, the interiors feature natural wooden floors, as well as windows and doors that frame views of the rural landscape around Włocławek.
About the practice:
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Source Architecture Studio was founded in 2015 by architect Artur Baranowski. Based in Włocławek, the practice specialises in the design of detached houses, commercial and industrial buildings, and interiors. The team manages projects from the analysis and concept stage, through design development, to authorial supervision of the construction process. The studio’s portfolio includes projects developed under the SOURCE Signature line, which focuses on residential and cultural architecture, and SOURCE Commercial, dedicated to industrial and business developments.
design: Source Architecture
photography: Nate Cook Photography
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