// Awarded 2nd prize in a student competition for the most innovative project at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the Warsaw University of Technology //
The housing complex is designed in a quiet and green district in the northern part of Warsaw. This area consists of freestanding, single-family houses, surrounded by old trees. Most of the existing buildings are good examples of the old suburban housing typology. This typology was a starting point in the concept development. It was crucial to address the most pressing and prevailing problems and suggest a better way of developing the old, neglected suburbs.
The main objectives for developing the housing complex:
+ No fences. Shared green areas. Intuitive privacy levels due to spatial solutions.
+ Common garage.
+ Cars are kept underground. Maximized green and pedestrian areas.
+ Openings towards the southern side. Closed northern walls.
Since the provided site is relatively small, the principle was to maximize the number of houses, while keeping the standard of living on a high level.
Too keep as much of the green area as possible, the houses share a common underground road, leading to separate garages.
The road is partly covered with small hanging front gardens, which provide a green and cosy public space for the dwellers. Open gaps between the hanging gardens serve as the source of light for the underground spaces.
There are four south-oriented buildings, closed off on the northern side in order to comply with the building regulations regarding windows and distances.
The way of placing the houses on the site ensures that the dwellers will get the best view of the nearby park from their bedrooms. It also enables afternoon sunlight exposure in the living rooms.
