with a zigzagging floorplan, 'S house' weaves among a polish forest

s house: a pavilion among the trees

Huddled within a site defined by mature trees, S House by PL.architekci stands in the wooded outskirts of Poznań, Poland. The residence occupies the landscape sensitively, and takes shape as a contemporary home that humbly settles into its surroundings.

From the outset, the architects set aside the idea of a compact, centralized mass. Instead, they proposed a low pavilion that traces the existing vegetation. The house reads as a horizontal presence filtered through trunks and branches, its perimeter adjusting to preserve the character of the plot. The building frames the existing trees on-site, allowing them to remain the main spatial markers.

images © Tom Kurek

PL.architekci respects the forested site

True to its name, the plan of PL.architekci’s S House follows an S-shaped curve, a direct response to the density of the forested plot. The design team develops this geometry to accommodate a generous residential program while maintaining the integrity of the site. By bending the footprint, the house moves between trees and creates pockets of garden that press close to the glazing.

Circulation occurs through glazed corridors that extend along the bends of the plan. Moving through them feels akin to walking outdoors, with shifting views of bark, foliage, and sky. The boundary between interior and exterior becomes permeable through transparency and proximity. The house gathers these moments into a continuous and cohesive sequence of spaces.

the pavilion-like home follows an S-shaped plan to preserve existing trees

the accordion roof structure

Local planning regulations required pitched roofs, a constraint that often alters the character of contemporary residential architecture. In response, PL.architekci devised an accordion-like roof structure that introduces rhythm across the ceiling plane. Its folded profile gives the exterior a zig-zagging surface when viewed from above while shaping complex a ceiling condition along the interiors.

This angled roof further lends improved acoustics, while light and ventilation systems are integrated within the ceiling folds, allowing technical elements to recede from view.

The S House’s interiors continue the architectural logic established outside. A subdued palette defines the rooms, with white resin floors extending toward the terraces. These surfaces reflect daylight and amplify the sense of openness, while dark oak veneers introduce warmth along walls and built-in furnishings.

PL.architekci sites its S House within a wooded site near Poznań