Jezierzany, a rustic seaside retreat in Northern Poland, is nirvana for off-the-grid travelers who want to immerse themselves in nature. Now, those outdoor fans with a taste for design can get both needs met with the arrival of Camppinus Park. Adjacent to Wicko Lake, close to the EuroVelo 10 cycling route, and less than two miles from the heady Baltic Sea, this holiday resort, complete with family-friendly pool, grill, and bonfire, straddles nostalgia and modernity.

Camppinus Park comprises eight separate houses with pitched roofs that evoke the area’s fishing history, all finished in shou sugi ban, the traditional Japanese technique that calls for preserving wood by charring its surface.

Expanding the narrative beyond those minimalist black-and-glass facades, Poznań-based architecture and design firm mode:lina handled the interiors of the vacation homes, drawing on the past but also celebrating the present with clean lines and abundant technology. Tablets, for instance, allow guests to tailor the house’s lighting to match their moods.

“We admired the traditional architecture of Jezierzany and architecture of the Camppinus Park buildings themselves. That is why we moved this atmosphere inside the houses, placing in the center the characteristic black houses that are reminiscent of the old barn, dating from 1848, that stands at the entrance to Camppinus,” says mode:lina co-founder Paweł Garus.

Certainly, the centerpiece of each home is this striking shed structure found on the upper level that encompasses the kitchen, bathroom, and storage facilities. “The space had to be cleverly organized so that the more technical aspects did not take up too much space in the recreational part of the house,” explains mode:lina co-founder Jerzy Woźniak. “That is why we have hidden in this small unit some functions that do not have to be so prominent. It also reminds some guests of a tree house.”

This house-within-the-house grounds the home, making the importance of walls less paramount. Instead, the hallways and open plans play starring roles in the layout. Consider the dining area, situated atop gray, hexagonal tiles that recall outdoor pavers. The presence of the miniature house conjures an aura of intimacy in the nook, just as its compact arrangement allows for the large, high-ceilinged living room below.

The heavy use of matte black detailing within the home — including on the dining room furnishings, window frames, and even the railing and mesh screen that veils the staircase connecting upstairs and downstairs — is in sharp contrast to the expanse of warm pine found throughout the structure. This wood also dominates the duo of bedrooms and another staircase that is adjacent to one of the bedrooms. The wall finishes, say the designers, resemble half-timbered buildings.

“We wanted to keep the right balance. The interior had to be calm and homely. Therefore, we only used materials that can be directly found in the vicinity of the resort,” says Garus.

Illuminating Jezierzany’s landscape is the priority at Camppinus Park, achieved through plentiful walls of windows. Past the one in the living room, a patio provides another opportunity to hang out among the trees.

Says Woźniak: “We had to think very carefully about the plan of the house to ensure an adequate level of privacy while maintaining an open view of the green surroundings.”

Related Reading:

This New Hotel in Poland Is a Creative Paradise

A Sleek Resort in a Japanese National Park Reinterprets Tradition

Project Credits

Interior Designer: mode:lina / @modelina_ architekci