- Project: Eco House
- Architect: BXB studio Bogusław Barnaś
- Location: Poland
- Year: 2016
BXBstudio – Bogusław Barnas has completed the Eco House, a contemporary two-story residence located in the protected Nature 2000 landscape area of Southern Poland. Surrounded by oak and beech forests, horse riding meadows, and agricultural fields, the home combines modern sustainable technology with an architectural form that harmonizes with its natural setting.
Context and Design Principles
The Eco House is designed not only as a place to live but as an architectural response to landscape and climate. Multiple analyses shaped its final form:
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Functional layout: Clear division into day, night, technical, and working zones.
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Solar radiation study: Optimized window placement for seasonal heating and cooling.
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Exterior views and site shape: Orientation to maximize vistas and daylight.
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Technology selection: Incorporation of energy-efficient systems.
By integrating these factors, the architects created a house that is deeply site-specific and environmentally attuned.
Energy Efficiency and Technology
The home uses Izodom energy-efficient technology, minimizing heat loss while maintaining comfortable interiors. Solar simulations guided the layout and glazing strategy:
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In winter, the house captures heat through large glass partitions.
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In summer, strategic shading prevents overheating.
This balance allows the residence to reduce reliance on artificial heating and cooling, reinforcing its eco-friendly identity.
Architectural Character
The Eco House is compact in overall footprint but spacious in its day zone, which opens to a soaring 16-foot ceiling. A concrete feature wall and bearing-mounted stairs serve as architectural focal points, celebrating material honesty and structural clarity.
Natural materials and simple geometries allow the house to blend into its forested context, while the modern detailing ensures a refined contemporary expression.
Living in Harmony with Nature
By combining architectural form, materiality, and advanced building technologies, the Eco House demonstrates how sustainability can shape design. It is not only an energy-efficient home but also a thoughtful integration of human living within a natural ecosystem, emphasizing comfort, resilience, and environmental respect.
