Recently nominated for the prestigious EU Mies Award, Red House by Biuro Toprojekt is located in Poland’s Upper Silesia on the edge of an forest glade. The 3,900-square-foot home, built of easily accessible materials, reflects a strong ecological bent.

The walls are constructed from hand-sorted, recycled bricks from nearby brick works. The bricks alternate in depth and orientation, with every other pair of bricks turned to have the short ends facing out. The unexpected placement with an otherwise standard building material creates an enriching movement of light and shadow across the facade.

Brick encases the interior living spaces, while also quietly revealing them at special moments through an openwork pattern. At night, when the building goes dark, the openings shine as glowing pieces in the composition.

The interior living spaces are muted and subdued in contrast to the warmth and texture of the exterior walls. Bright and light spaces look out onto the forested surroundings. Large picture windows and sliding glass doors bring nature to the forefront.

There is no band that separates the brick walls from the ground below. The house appears to grow out of the ground, blurring the line between land and building, building and sky. The colors and textures of the wall extend to the roof line, which over time will be covered with greenery and plantings, further harmonizing the house and its natural surroundings.

Related Reading: 10 Modern Structures That Use Brick in Interesting Ways

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Toprojekt

Structural Engineer: Toprojekt

Interior Design: Toprojekt