KWK promes completes safe house in warsaw, poland

located on the outskirts of warsaw, poland, ‘safe house’ by katowice-based architectural office KWK promes is a two-storey residential house that aims to provide a feeling of maximum security for the residents. true to its name, the most distinguishable element of the design is the moveable exterior wall components that allow the house to be completely closed to its environment or open and connected to the rural landscape. while the initial read of the design might seem confining, the house, when in its open state, offers immense transparency while establishing a strong relationship to the site.

all images by aleksander rutkowski, courtesy of KWK promes

from the street side, the dwelling lends little in terms of windows or visual openings. the entrance is lined by a thick exterior fence with two slideable gates. when the set of 15 meter-long retractable walls on the eastern and western side are slid all the way out, the entry plot is enclosed into a temporary courtyard space. the back of the house, which faces an expansive garden to the south, features a 6 meter-high roll-down gate that completely opens up the interior to the exterior. floor-to-ceiling windows provide a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, presenting the living space with an effectively contrary impression to the one offered by the solid mass of the building. the glazing, which acquires ample amount of sunlight and energy during the winter, is set back from the exterior shell to create an open terrace space.

east corner in its closed state

other mobile elements include large ‘shutters’ which essentially are hinging exterior walls ranging up to 3.5m in length. a drawbridge from the upper floor provides access to a roof terrace above the swimming pool. all the moveable components are mechanically operated with built-in electronic engines. the cuboid building is a concrete monolith, while its non-fixed components are composed of light steel trusses filled with mineral wool to ensure complete insulation. all exterior surfaces are clad with cement-bonded particleboards, then painted with a dark wood stain which resembles the shade and finish widely found in the neighboring houses and barns.

open state

street view in its closed state

open state

south corner in closed state

open state

west corner in its closed state

opened state

a draw bridge from the first floor provides access to the roof of the pool pavilion

terrace space on top of the pool pavilion

draw bridge

the interior space lends transparency when open

interior view when the house is in open state

outdoor space to the back of the house

open house in the evening

open patio space

pool in the foreground

looking into the dining area

south-east elevation in the evening

safe house in context

site plan
(left) closed house
(right) open house

model
(left) closed house
(right) open house

ground floor plan (closed house)

ground floor plan (open house)

first floor plan (closed house)

first floor plan (open house)

cross section

longitudinal section

north east elevation
(top) closed house
(bottom) open house

south east elevation
(top) closed house
(bottom) open house

south west elevation
(top) closed house
(bottom) open house

north west elevation
(top) closed house
(bottom) open house