The old mill gains a second life and new modernized look, due to many elements from the original windmill which have found their place in the new building. The process of creation is a combination of a bold and innovative design idea, a technical workshop, and the brave approach of the investor.
Description of project by o4 architekci
The foundations for the project was created as a part of the international competition "Contemporary House 2014 – Village House”. The work of Tomasz Padło and Michał Kucharski was awarded at the national stage in Poland. A few years later, the project was noticed by an Investor from the Lublin region, who was in the possession of an old windmill. The initial concept has undergone the necessary modifications and has been adapted to customer requirements as well as technical and local conditions.
Context
The building was designed to fit into the rural landscape. Its form is a well-known, characteristic and strong element of the traditional architecture of the Polish countryside. This facility was historically used to grind wheat into flour with the force of the wind. It was located in many towns and villages in Poland and other European countries. Until the time of the industrial revolution, the number of mills increased and their popularity grew. Due to the mode of operation, windmills were usually exposed in the panorama of then cities.
Function and Form
The building is trying to cope with the modern way of living and to properly fulfill its new residential function. The old mill gains a second life and new modernized look. Simultaneously it doesn’t lose its original expression and form. The challenge was to include the functional program in this form. Due to its previous purpose, the building was more vertical. The ground plan was closed in the external dimensions of 6,5 x 6,5m. Therefore, the rooms were spread over 3 overground storeys and an additional mezzanine. In order to obtain more space for living, there was designed also an underground part. There is a garage, technical room and spacious guest lounge. The reinforced concrete structure covered with earth carries the main body. Also, an external terrace has been created on extended part of the basement. The above-ground storeys contain rooms fore the main users – the family. On the ground floor there is a living space with a kitchen and a reading room. It opens onto the garden with extensive glazing. An additional hidden window allows to see the entrance area. On the upper floor, there are bedrooms with bathrooms and on the mezzanine – there is a work space with a view of the surrounding fields. The opening between the top storeys allowed for the placement of a historic brake wheel inside. An original trestle from a disassembled windmill was placed on the ground floor.
Construction
Due to its new function, the facility required a completely new structure. Old, reusable elements have been cleaned and restored. The lower part has reinforced concrete floor, walls and ceiling. 4 pillars were led out from it, on which the next levels of the building is based. Old beams from the mill, were used in the outer walls, creating the half-timbered wall interior. The windmill has a gable roof with a wooden truss of a rafter-collar beam structure.
Finishing
The finishing of the building is a combination of old and new, history and modernity. Old construction boards were used on the facade. The new boards were partially burned with fire. In some places, there is another important material - reinforced concrete. It is the one, which 'rises' the building up. It also appears on the retaining walls. The third material is glass. It’s most used on the ground floor, in the underground part and on the mezzanine. It allowed to open the interior to the surrounding nature and ploughland. High vertical windows are used in the upper parts of the building. Such a procedure allowed them to blend in with the repetitive rhythm of the facade plank. Wooden shingle was used as roofing material. An interesting idea of the Investor for fencing the property is to use old railway sleepers as span posts.
The process of creation is a combination of a bold and innovative design idea, technical workshop, and the brave approach of the Investor.
