Color, shape, and relationships between interior and exterior. House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer

10/09/2023. [Wolin] Poland
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA

Zürich-based architecture studio Pankowska & Rohrhofer was commissioned to design House Wolin, a holiday retreat located in Wolin an island in the Baltic Sea, in northwest Poland. The house is embedded in the pastoral landscape of Poland’s Baltic Sea coast, near Wolin National Park, a bison reserve with beech forest and trails leading to steep cliffs like Góra Gasan.

Its basic shape with an A-frame wooden structure is reminiscent of the so-called"Brda" houses, prefabricated wooden houses that became a popular typology for state-sponsored recreational areas during the communist era in Poland and offered a cost-effective solution for holiday facilities.

House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer. Photograph by Rasmus Norlander.

House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer. Photograph by Rasmus Norlander.

Ground floor plan. House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer.

First floor plan. House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer.

Elevation floor plan. House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer.

The couple architects Pankowska & Rohrhofer pay attention to Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas’ statements in his book Delirious New York about the largest structures, exploring with their concept for house Wolin the opposite spatial phenomenon, due to its small scale. The specific characteristics of its boundaries, transitioning between the interior and exterior, become the project’s defining spatial quality.

The house comprises three levels, each of which with its own distinctive attributes, where color is a key element in House Wolin, contributing to the distinctive atmosphere of each level.

The ground floor prominently opens up to the natural surroundings, with two expansive terraces extending the living area to create a fluid transition between the interior and exterior. Below ground level, the bathroom receives natural light through a small window, creating an introverted space. The sleeping area is located on the topmost level, where a generously proportioned window directs the view to the sky.

For the construction, the architects chose pine wood as the dominant element. Pine plywood panels are employed for both the exterior facade and interior walls, extending to the furniture and cabinetry within. The flooring features slats made from pine wood.

House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer. Photograph by Rasmus Norlander.

House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer. Photograph by Rasmus Norlander.

Project description by Pankowska & Rohrhofer

House Wolin was built as a holiday retreat embedded in the pastoral landscape of Poland’s Baltic Sea coast. Its A-frame wooden structure is reminiscent of the so-called"Brda" houses, prefabricated wooden houses that became a common typology for state-sponsored recreational areas during the communist era in Poland and offered a cost-effective solution for holiday facilities.

The project examines the opposite end of Rem Koolhaas’ statements on the largest structures, according to which the spatial separation between the core and envelope increases to such an extent that the interior and exterior become two distinct architectural entities. By contrast, House Wolin explores the opposite spatial phenomenon. Due to its small scale, the specific characteristics of its boundaries, transitioning between the interior and exterior, become the project’s defining spatial quality.

The house comprises three levels, each of which with its own distinctive attributes. The ground floor prominently opens up to the natural surroundings, with two expansive terraces extending the living area to create a fluid transition between the interior and exterior. Below ground level, the bathroom receives natural light through a small window, creating an introverted space. The sleeping area is located on the topmost level, where a generously proportioned window directs the view to the sky.

House Wolin by Pankowska & Rohrhofer. Photograph by Rasmus Norlander.

The material palette of the house is characterized by pine wood. Plywood panels from pine are utilized for both the façade and interior walls, and the same material is extended to the interior furniture and cabinetry. The flooring consists of pine wood slats.

Color plays a significant role in House Wolin and imbues each level with a distinctive atmosphere. The wooden slats and terraces at ground level are adorned in melon yellow. The bathroom features an earthy red color scheme. The plywood panels in the bedroom and the balcony floor on the upper level are stained in a calming shade of blue.