- Project: Safe House
- Architect: KWK Promes
- Location: Poland, Warsaw
- Year: 2009
- Area: 2500 m2
In a quiet suburb of Warsaw stands one of the world’s most innovative residential projects—the Safe House by KWK Promes. Designed by renowned architect Robert Konieczny, this groundbreaking 2,500-square-meter residence embodies a new architectural typology where security and flexibility coalesce through kinetic design.
A Home That Moves with Purpose
At first glance, the Safe House appears as a minimalist concrete monolith. But at its core lies a highly dynamic structure where parts of the exterior envelope are movable. With sliding and rotating walls, shutters, and even a retractable drawbridge, this home blurs the lines between static architecture and mechanical innovation.
By day, the eastern and western walls slide outward to form a private courtyard, extending the home’s secure perimeter. By night, the structure contracts into a sealed, impenetrable volume—transforming from open sanctuary to fortified shelter.
A New Typology of Living
What sets the Safe House apart is not just its mobility but the functional philosophy behind it. As Konieczny explains, this is a house where “form follows movement.” The mobile systems are not tied to a specific architectural style, meaning the concept could be applied to traditional or modern homes, single or multi-story.
This makes the Safe House not just a building, but a prototype for a new way of living—one that adapts to its environment and its occupants’ daily rhythms.
Technical Mastery: Mechanized Security
The engineering behind the Safe House is as robust as its design. Massive movable walls, including 22-meter and 15-meter-long steel panels, slide on motorized tracks to redefine the plot’s boundaries. Additional mobile elements include:
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2.8-meter-high shutters (opening up to 3.5 meters wide)
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A drawbridge to the rooftop terrace above the pool
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A 14-meter-wide roll-down gate, sourced from maritime and aerospace industries, that doubles as an outdoor cinema screen
All systems are powered by built-in electronic motors, ensuring seamless operation and absolute safety.
Concrete Core, Lightweight Armor
While the house’s core is a reinforced concrete monolith, its mobile elements are constructed from steel trusses filled with mineral wool, providing excellent insulation. Cladding includes Cetris cement boards and waterproof alder plywood, stained to match the rural Polish surroundings and evoke nearby traditional barns.
A Passive House with Organic Behavior
Beyond its mechanical genius, the Safe House is also a model of sustainability. Its thick mobile envelope insulates in winter, while strategic glazing and shutters regulate solar gain during summer. The house incorporates:
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A hybrid heating system (solar panels, heat pump, and gas support)
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Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
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Wide glazing to capture natural light and reduce reliance on artificial heating
This daily rhythm—opening with the sun, closing at dusk—mirrors nature’s own cycles, making the Safe House not just secure and sustainable, but also emotionally resonant.
Conclusion: A Living Machine
The Safe House by KWK Promes is more than a building—it’s a responsive architectural system. It protects, adapts, and evolves with its users. Whether seen as a passive house, a kinetic sculpture, or a smart living organism, this project sets a bold precedent for the future of residential design.
