Multiple Functions Within Complex Architecture
This 105-square-metre, two-storey house is home to a family of four, for whom spending time and cooking together is just as important as having comfortable spaces for studying, working, and relaxing. Given the relatively compact floor area, this required making the most of every available space, which was made more challenging by numerous sloping walls and irregular divisions. The project was undertaken by the design studio MO Architekci.
“We therefore began the project by carefully analysing the layout of the house and the way its residents would use it on a daily basis. Rather than adapting the interior to the typical layout of a house of a similar size, we treated its unusual geometry as the starting point for developing our own functional arrangement and interior language,” the project’s authors explain.
The greatest attention was given to the living area. The owners spend a great deal of time cooking, so the space needed to provide ample work surfaces, plenty of storage, and more extensive equipment than is typically found in a home. MO Architekci designed a kitchen with an island, two refrigerators, and a wine cooler. An extendable dining table was placed right next to it. Everything was carefully planned so that several people could use the kitchen and dining area comfortably at the same time.
The island significantly increased the available work surface while also helping to organise the way the kitchen is used. It features rounded corners and vertical divisions in the wooden cladding — a motif that runs throughout the interior, appearing in various bespoke elements designed specifically for the space.
The proportions and materials used in the kitchen, dining area, and living room complement one another, while the division between the different functions is visually emphasised. The seating area was arranged to make the most of the garden views. The large glazing is no longer simply a backdrop but has become an integral part of the interior, much like the greenery outside.
The home’s colour palette has been limited to calm, warm tones. Natural wood, stone, and textiles form the foundation, complemented by subtle brass details. Contrasts, layers, and variations are introduced through materials and forms. The grain of the wooden flooring, vertical divisions in the bespoke furniture, light-coloured built-in surfaces, stone finishes, and soft textiles create a variety of scales and textures.
A study is located on the ground floor. MO Architekci designed a library here that makes full use of the available wall space, while a height-adjustable electric desk helps maintain comfort during long hours of work. Glazed doors were chosen to allow natural light to flow freely throughout the entire floor. The space also features a distinctive accent: one of the walls was painted a deep blue, giving the study a more individual character.
“The building’s unusual geometry also proved to be an opportunity,” the designers recall. The original layout of the small ground-floor bathroom included a window in the external wall, but since the project was developed at a stage when changes to the architecture were still possible, the solution was reconsidered. Ultimately, the space was used to create an entrance to a separate laundry room. It may seem like a minor adjustment, but it helped organise the functions of the space more effectively.
The first floor houses the private sleeping area, with three bedrooms and the main bathroom. As the rooms are relatively small, storage was carefully considered from the architectural planning stage. Each bedroom includes the necessary wardrobes or a walk-in closet, while the children’s rooms also feature comfortable study areas.
In the main bedroom, a bespoke dressing table was incorporated into the layout, with a walk-in wardrobe concealed behind it, providing the primary storage area. This helps keep the sleeping space calm and uncluttered. More expressive decorative elements, such as large-scale botanical motifs and the soft, curved lines of the upholstered headboard, give the bedroom its own distinctive design language.
The bathroom’s irregular divisions and sloping wall were incorporated into the design and used to define the shower area. The more challenging part of the room was given a specific function, while the remaining space accommodates, among other things, a freestanding bathtub with a rounded form that serves more than just an aesthetic purpose.
In a small space, eliminating sharp corners significantly improves functionality. The stone surfaces are paired with warmer metallic details and a touch of colour in the shower area.
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