In Chęciny, in the Świętokrzyskie Province, a house has been built that does not so much blend into the landscape as engage in a subtle dialogue with it. Architect Tomasz Piątek designed a 118-square-metre building for himself. Constructed using frame technology, the building is devoid of ornamentation. The minimalist form is not only an aesthetic choice, but a consistently implemented idea in which each element has its own justification.
The most important assumption of the design was the purity of form expressed through absolute whiteness. It is not limited to the façade — the roof is also white, which is rare in Polish single-family housing. To achieve this effect, it was necessary to resort to solutions that went beyond the standard market offer. Roof elements, such as ventilation chimneys, were individually painted, as they are not available in this colour on the market.
Thanks to this, the boundary between the wall and the roof almost disappears. The result is a uniform, luminous structure that reacts to light: in the morning it takes on a cool shade, at noon it becomes almost chalky, and at sunset it turns a soft pink. The house is therefore not a static object, but a variable surface that reacts to its surroundings.
Designing ‘outwards’
The architect designed his house in a way that reverses traditional thinking about interior functions. Each room has been assigned to a specific frame outside the window, as if the landscape were the first and most important design material.
A 12-metre distance from the edge of the forest was maintained, creating a relationship based on respect rather than domination. The private rooms open onto the trees: an office, a bedroom and a bathroom with a free-standing bathtub. The view of the trunks and crowns acts as a natural calming filter, conducive to regeneration and creative work.
The living area, on the other hand, faces the panorama of the Castle in Chęciny. Large glazing frames the historic stronghold, juxtaposing its austere, stone mass with the modern, white form of the house. This meeting of two orders — the contemporary and the local heritage — gives the investment a unique context.
A red accent
In this consistent white, there is one strong signal: the red entrance door. This is not decoration, but a deliberate reference to the geology of the region. Chęciny and its surroundings are famous for their characteristic red soil and nearby hills, including Czerwona Góra. The colour of the door thus becomes a code for the place, a reminder that even the most minimalist architecture remains part of the local landscape.
This colour theme recurs in the interior, where the white walls create a neutral backdrop for the distinctive furniture and details. Rich armchairs, geometric lamps and accents in shades of red give the space an energy that prevents the house from turning into a sterile laboratory. This interior is alive, pulsating with colour and light, while maintaining its clarity.
Tomasz Piątek’s design is not just a place to live. It is a well-thought-out observation point. The minimalist form is not a limitation here, but a tool that allows you to bring out what is most important: the relationship with the surroundings. The house was built in cooperation with Bergmann domy szkieletowe.
design: Tomasz Piątek (PETARDA architektura)
photos: Tomasz Piątek
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