It is only 35 sq m, but inside it has everything you need for a pleasant holiday. WALOWA Cottage is located in the village of Walowa Góra in the Beskid Wyspowy. It takes just 1.5 hours by car to get here from Krakow. The house was built according to a design prepared by the owner herself – architect Joanna Ryś-Ucherek and her husband Piotr. The designer was keen to preserve the natural character of the place, and to integrate the building into the trees growing on the plot. In this way, a forest oasis was created in which anyone can live. The house can be rented out.
The house is made up of two simple and geometric volumes that blend into one another. The first is the main part of the house, while the second is a timber-framed structure towering over the L-shaped terrace. The house was designed on a rectangular plan and is crowned by a traditional gabled roof with a steep pitch of 45 degrees. Standing seam metal in graphite was used to finish the roof. The building’s dark façade contrasts with the surrounding green of the forest, making it stand out against its background, while at the same time alluding in colour to the colour of the tree trunks.
The original character of the building was created by the boards covering the façades. They were tanned to a deep black colour with faint brown tones. The owners decided to use the Shou Sugi Ban technique, which brings out the beautiful texture of the wood, but also makes it more durable. The boards are resistant to fire, pests and the damaging effects of water or UV rays. The tanning process is a natural alternative to chemical impregnations and varnishes. This method was a conscious environmental choice.
The inside of the building is accessed through sliding patio doors. During the day, when the doors are pushed open, nature seems to invade the interior and the occupants gain a larger area for relaxation. The highlight of the wooden terrace is the almost 20-year-old birch tree, which was incorporated into the design by creating a special place for it in the corner section.
In the interior, the architects have used a clear division. The ground floor is an open living area with a kitchenette, dining table and a seating area with a sofa set against a background of large windows. Just off to the side, behind a glass sliding door, is a small bedroom with a double bed. The curtains installed here help to ensure a sense of privacy. A bathroom has also been designed on the ground floor.
A simple staircase in the central part of the building leads to the first floor. The mezzanine designed there provides additional usable space. There are no partition walls here, which gives a sense of space. The mezzanine features a double bed and a smaller bed for one person. An interesting feature is a net in the form of a hammock, on which one can comfortably settle down with a book. A desk with a workspace has been set up by the staircase balustrade.
The design maintains a simple material palette. Thanks to natural materials such as wood, plywood, micro-cement and bright colours, the interior of the cottage exudes tranquillity, providing the perfect refuge from the daily rush and noise. More photos of the building can be found on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/domek_walowa.
Architectural and interior design:
Joanna Ryś-Ucherek – architect with 7 years of experience, member of the Małopolska Regional Chamber of Architects. Holds a licence to design without limitations. Currently working in an Irish design office in the commercial buildings sector. Graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology. During her studies, she completed student exchanges at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam and the National University of Singapore. She gained her professional experience in the Netherlands, Belgium and Saudi Arabia.
The WALOWA house is a joint creation of Joanna and Peter. They have been working on it together since 2021. They did most of the finishing, furniture and carpentry work – including the façade – themselves.
source: domek-walowa.pl
design: Joanna Ryś-Ucherek
photos: Joanna Krowiranda
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