The Katowice, Poland-based architectural firm KWK Promes unveils the Trim House, featuring unusual angular geometry and a unique triangular floor plan. Located in Vilnius, Lithuania, the razor-edged house has a distinct, solid concrete façade with a soft, illuminated atrium at its center. The smooth monolithic shell acts as a protective layer for the seamless glazed atrium housed within.
The architecture firm designed the Trim house for a family after an invitation to participate in a 2016 private competition, organized by the client. The core idea of this architectural project was to maintain a connection with nature while making the house feel secure and protected. The firm decided to add a night zone on the upper floor and a day zone on the ground level, acting as an extension of the garden.
But the plan came to a halt due to a sudden change in local regulations, allowing construction of a new building on only 50 percent of the plot. The client looked for another site, but the firm managed to convince them to stay on the current plot. The architects trimmed the original design plan and reduced the building area by 40 percent to meet the regulations, resulting in an angular building with a triangular floor plan.
Inspired by a classic atrium house, Robert Konieczny, owner of the KWK Promes architectural firm, modified the design to add a private space for the client while opening the house to the natural surroundings enveloped with lush greenery. This area became the night zone, and the ground floor formed the daytime zone. He placed a spacious courtyard at the center of the house, contained within a glazed wall. The generous glazing floods the space with light throughout the day and seamlessly connects the interior to the garden.
The neutral walls and flooring in the luxurious interior reflect natural light, making it bright and adding a modern aesthetic to the house. The light interior contrasts with the greenery in the garden to make the space feel more expansive despite the trimming. The glass wall on the ground floor frames views of the lush garden enveloped with trees all around. Its open-plan layout maintains the fluidity with zones flowing into each other.
The daytime zone includes a minimalistic kitchen, a dining area, a living room, and an art gallery. The open layout makes the space feel expansive and fluid, allowing easy accommodation of a large number of guests. The large floor-to-ceiling glazing visually merges the indoor and outdoor. The curved spiral staircase, near the kitchen, connects the ground floor to the upper level.
The smooth, rounded form of the spiral staircase provides a visual contrast against the triangular floor plan and becomes a sculptural focal point of the interior. The upper floor includes bedrooms in an enclosed space, offering ample privacy. Adjacent to the bedroom lies a terrace. This elevated platform will make you feel as if you are standing on a ship and admiring panoramic views of the landscape from a vantage point.
The Trim House is a stunning example of the sculptural transformation of the architectural project that nearly lost its chance to exist. Despite the crisis, Robbert Konieczny altered the design plan instead of abandoning it. This brilliant move imbued the angular building with an ocean liner aesthetic. The new design successfully preserved the core idea of maintaining a connection with nature and providing a private space for restorative living.
Via: Wallpaper
