TWO-RIDGED HOUSE

The Two-Ridged House project in the Warsaw suburb of Konstancin presented an intriguing challenge for the team at Z3Z Architekci. The building’s massing is a direct response to the specific site constraints encountered at the outset of the design process. Its unconventional form is the result of reconciling strict local zoning regulations with the clients’ expectations.

The local zoning plan imposed specific constraints on narrow plots. For a site approximately 19 meters wide, the regulations required the use of gable or multi-pitched roofs with a relatively steep pitch. An additional complication was the mandate that the roof ridge must run parallel to the road. Had the project been a modest 100-square-meter house, these zoning provisions would not have posed a major challenge. However, the remaining parameters allowed for a substantial home of over 200 square meters. This created a spatial conflict that could not be resolved through standard solutions. A single roof with a ridge parallel to the road—limited to a maximum length of 13 meters—simply could not cover a footprint exceeding 200 square meters. The issue was solved by introducing two ridges, essentially creating two roofs parallel to the street. Ultimately, a single provision in the local zoning plan dictated the entire form of this house.

The shape of the building’s footprint is also strictly dictated by its function. At the front, the house spans the entire width of the plot, tapering further back to provide driveway access and a maneuvering area in front of the garage. Consequently, the front of the house—the street elevation—doubles as the garden facade. The site imposed numerous specific constraints on the architects, which ultimately paved the way for highly unconventional solutions.

An additional challenge was an existing small cottage at the rear of the plot, which turned out to share a party wall with the neighbor’s house. The presence of this old structure built directly on the property line merely confirmed the architects’ initial premise: the rear of the site should be dedicated to utility spaces, despite its favorable southwestern exposure.

Expansive views of serene ponds and a river valley unfold from the front of the house and its terrace, framing a protected natural landscape immune to future development. The vista is completely undisturbed by the narrow street, which becomes impassable further along and services only a handful of properties. To secure absolute privacy for the road-facing living areas, the building and terrace were raised, lifting the interior sightlines above any pedestrians. The site’s inherent topography, naturally sloping toward the water and the road, perfectly accommodated this design choice.

The exterior of the house is finished with a textural mix of fiber-cement panels, HPL cladding, and silicone render. Z3Z Architekci also took charge of the interior design, responding to the clients’ vision for a raw, industrial loft vibe that is carefully balanced by the warmth of wood and exposed brick. The ceiling features raw concrete left straight from the formwork, adding a striking and highly successful focal point to the main living areas.