The KWK Promes studio of Robert Konieczny designed a very innovative and original object. The house in the Beskidy Mountains was created in close relation to the challenging topography of the plot, which produced a surprisingly interesting effect. Instead of opposing the usually troublesome steep terrain, the architects took advantage of its natural advantages and made them the main asset of the whole project called Yaw House.
Lump and functional layout of Yaw House
The designers’ starting point was a simple form with a pitched roof, in keeping with local tradition and neighbouring buildings. However, the turning of the building towards the south, referring to the notion of ‘yaw’ known from aviation, proved to be crucial. With this gesture, the house was set into the slope and gained an intuitive zoning. On the entrance side, there was a technical and garage area, corresponding to the owner’s passion for motoring and off-roading. On the garden side, a spacious living area open to the light and landscape was designed, while the night area was located on the first floor. The total floor area is almost 930 square metres.
Backyard swimming pool
During the construction phase, the need arose to adapt the house to the needs of one of the residents, who required rehabilitation. A swimming pool then became the solution. The difficulty was to integrate it into the existing design without disturbing the original concept. Eventually, this element was placed in the centre of the building based on the circular form and became its symbolic heart. The idea was so successful that the swimming pool area now appears to have been part of the project from the very beginning.
Protecting the house from the sun
Light was an important consideration for this project. Because of the house’s location, appropriately placed glazing with UV filters was used to make the most of the sun while avoiding overheating the interiors. The building fits gently into the hillside, with the roof partially transitioning into the natural landscape, as if it were an extension of it.
The greenery and surroundings of Yaw House
The architects wanted the building not only to fit in well with the site, but also to work with it, also in terms of the landscape. Currently, in its designs, Robert Konieczny KWK Promes focuses on wild meadows, vegetation which naturally “flows” around the building, softly enveloping it. Here, a completely different problem arose – adders. Therefore, at the request of the residents, the greenery was deliberately trimmed. Not for aesthetic reasons, but simply for safety.
Name: Yaw House
Location: Beskidy, Poland
Office: Robert Konieczny KWK Promes
Authors: Marek Golab-Sieling, Robert Konieczny
Collaboration: Anna Szewczyk
Usable area: 929.9 sq. m. (ground floor: 581.7 sq m, first floor: 206.7 sq m, swimming pool: 141.5 sq m)
Implementation: 2021 – 2025
Photos: Jakub Certowicz
Also read: single-family house | Ecology | whiteMAD on Instagram | KWK PROMES | Architecture in Poland
