Konieczny’s Ark, Poland, by KWK Promes

Best new private house

Southern Poland’s picturesque, mountainous landscape was a key inspiration for Konieczny’s Ark, a new house in the hills of Brenna by Katowice-based firm KWK Promes. The tough, faceted concrete looks as if it has just landed on this grassy meadow, but its appearance belies a clever structural arrangement that treats the home like a bridge over the landscape, allowing rainwater to flow harmlessly underneath. The bulk of the pitched-roof building, reminiscent of the region’s gabled barns, is raised high off the ground for security, with a drawbridge-style entranceway at one end. The boat-like feel is enhanced by sloping concrete walls that enclose the underfloor storage area, creating spectacular, unencumbered views from within and making the house seem as if it’s launching itself from the hillside. An open-plan central living space is bookended by three bedrooms and a terrace.



Pictured: Konieczny’s Ark was built for the owner of KWK Promes, Robert Konieczny. Situated on a hillside, the ‘floating’ structure allows water and mud to flow underneath freely. Photography: Jakub Certowicz