Apartments in Wolf Clearing.
Two guesthouses in Karpacz, in Wolf Clearing district, located near Śnieżka – the highest peak of Karkonosze and the most popular tourist destination in the area. Buildings are situated in the direct neighbourhood of Karkonosze National Park. Twin structures are located on a 3670 square meter plot. The first one, 446 square meter building, houses eight independent apartments. The second one, 565 square meter building, contains seven apartments and an additional underground garage. Each apartment consists of a kitchen and dining space, a living room, and a separate bedroom.
Guidelines provided by clients aimed at high quality aesthetic and material values. In addition; an important requirement was adapting the design to maintenance-free operation. Traditional reception was substituted with a fully automated online booking and admittance system.
Photography by ONI studio
The origin of the architectural concept, design, and external finishing is the historic architecture of Karkonosze wooden mountain shelters and houses from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was influenced by formal reasons as well as the desire to fit in the regional traditions with respect to heritage and homogeneity. Solid stone plinth, exposed half-timbered construction, gable ends covered with wooden boards, roofs covered with wooden shingles – all these elements are reflected in an updated form.
The concrete structure of two lower floors is covered with split gneiss. Hand-formed piece by piece, the stones were carefully composed according to the character defined in the project. Solid stone plinth creates a massive, logical base for a much lighter wooden frame on the upper floors. Large format glazing exposes the internal wooden structure resembling half-timbered type construction with its composition. Spectacular glazing of gable walls is covered with wooden vertical fins in order to reference typical regional wooden gables. Upper floor facades and the roof are cladded with the same material – pine thermowood. Such expression, also appearing as a form of the fifth elevation, relates visually to traditional wood shingles covering.
Photography by ONI studio
Complemented by concrete and granite, wood is also the main material defining the interiors of the apartments. Internal walls in the basement and ground floor apartments are finished with concrete plaster. The first floor and attic interiors are dominated with pine plywood following facades’ division. Thanks to full height glazing the apartments are opening to the views of the surrounding landscape. Guests of the apartments on the east side will enjoy the view of the neighbouring forest. South and west side windows provide a panorama of Karkonosze and visible Śnieżka peak with a recognizable silhouette of the meteorological observatory located on its top.
Photography by ONI studio
Project Info:
Architects: studio de.materia
Area: 332 m²
Project Year: 2020
Photographs: ONI studio
Manufacturers: Foscarini, LABRA, Thermory, Aluprof
by : Huda Yousry
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.