Architects: KWK PROMES
Area: 138 m²
Year: 2015
Photographs: Jakub Certowicz, Olo Studio, Robert Konieczny
Manufacturers: Ideal Work
Category: Houses
Authorial Collaboration: Łukasz Marciniak
Collaboration: Marcin Harnasz, Aneta Świeżak
Structural Engineering: Kornel Szyndler
Architect in Charge: Robert Konieczny
City: Kraków
Country: Poland

Konieczny’s Ark, designed by KWK PROMES in the Polish mountains, frames a panoramic landscape through a one-story structure fully open to the view, giving all interior spaces equal access to the surrounding scenery. Security concerns arising from the remote location led to a design where the building touches the ground at only one corner, with the rest cantilevered over a steep slope. This raised the bedroom level and reduced vulnerability to intruders. A 10-meter wall and a drawbridge on the entrance side serve both as stairs and as a closing mechanism. Built like a bridge to allow rainwater to pass naturally underneath, the structure responds to local landslip risks. A gabled form, mandated by local codes, was adapted into a barn-like shape with three thin supporting walls. Structural rigidity is achieved through the sloped planes of an inverted roof, which enhance safety and give the house the appearance of an ark floating above the terrain. To maintain low costs and ease of construction, the house was insulated from the inside with sprayed closed-cell foam, and the exposed concrete structure serves as the final facade, eliminating the need for additional finishes.

The greatest asset of the site is the expansive view it offers. The design concept aimed to turn the house into a frame that defines and emphasizes this panorama. A one-story structure, fully open to the mountain landscape, was determined to be the most suitable solution, providing all interior spaces with equal access to the same view.

Due to the site’s remote and isolated location, security became a significant concern. The solution involved rotating the structure so that only one corner touches the ground while the rest extends beyond the edge of the hill. This approach elevated the section of the ground floor containing the bedrooms to the height of the first floor. Given the extensive glass openings throughout the building, the architect’s wife requested a secure closure on the entrance side. In response, a 10-meter wall and a drawbridge were introduced, serving both as an access stairway and a window shutter.

The house is situated on a steep slope, an area increasingly prone to landslides in the Polish mountains. To reduce the risk of subsoil movement, the structure was designed as a bridge, allowing rainwater to flow naturally beneath it.

The conditions of the mountainous landscape, along with local building regulations, required the use of a gable roof. The house adopted the form of a traditional barn, supported by three slender walls.

To provide structural rigidity, the walls were reinforced by the planes of an inverted roof, slightly elevated above the ground. The sloped geometry contributed to a greater sense of security. This approach effectively resulted in a structure with two roofs offering protection from water, giving the house the appearance of an ark hovering above the fields. To maintain this impression, it became clear that the ideal landscape would involve no formal garden, the most fitting fence would be a temporary herding fence, and the most appropriate pathway would consist simply of a few rocks. At the same time, the building needed to be economical and straightforward to build. For this reason, the decision was made to insulate from the interior, allowing the concrete structure to serve as the finished facade. This eliminated the need for complex detailing and surface treatments, which were replaced by poured concrete sourced from a local supplier. Sprayed closed-cell foam was chosen as the optimal insulation, functioning effectively as both thermal protection and a vapor barrier.