GRID Architekci
pl / en
residential · Completed · 2009

Semi-Detached House Extension, Wrocław

The decision to extend the house was based on a pre-war building whose functional layout and size, according to the Investors, required improvement.

Corner view of the timber extension volume of the semi-detached house with a dark plinth, next to the old white section with a red roof, surrounded by the garden.

The decision to extend the house was based on a pre-war building whose functional layout and size, according to the Investors, required improvement. A very small kitchen and living room, a cramped bathroom, and 2 small bedrooms under the sloped roof did not allow for comfortable living for a family of 4. In addition, there was no connection between the house and the garden. We proposed a solution that met the Investors’ requirements while not interfering with the main form of the house. We wanted the extension to complement the old house, serving as a backdrop for the old part or as a synergy created by combining the new with the old. Additionally, to emphasize their separateness, we connected both volumes with a link set back from the side elevation, which optically slimmed down the cuboid and added lightness to the extension.

Although modest in area, the proposed extension made it possible to create a large, spacious living room combined with an open kitchen and dining area. Upstairs, the necessary space was gained for an additional bedroom with a walk-in closet and bathroom. The exit to the garden is located in the link, and thanks to its setback, the outdoor stairs fit into the resulting recess. When extending the other half of the semi-detached house, we additionally designed a garage combined with a basement under the new section. As authors, what pleases us most is that both halves of the semi-detached house were extended in an analogous way, and that is the greatest strength of the project. Although the functional program, the needs, and even the budget differed, in both cases we managed to unify everything within a single volume shared by the two segments.

Corner of the extension's timber facade with a glazed ground-floor section and entrance steps finished in dark tile. Garden view of the timber extension volume with large ground- and upper-floor glazing, surrounded by conifers. Living room interior with a light wooden floor, a white sofa, a chaise longue, and a glazed corner wall opening the view to the garden. Kitchen interior with glossy white cabinet fronts, a dark-wood niche with a coffee machine, and a view of the wooden stairs. Old half of the semi-detached house — a white-plastered house with a steep red-tiled roof, a bicycle by the entrance, and lush greenery in the garden. Living room interior with corner glazing, a chaise longue and white sofa, and a view of the house entrance with its wooden door. Bathroom finished with large-format light-colored tiles, a backlit purple decorative panel, a freestanding tub, and purple accessories.
Year
2009
Status
Completed