Black rock

December 14, 2018

MUS ARCHITECTS realized the new project for a single-family in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. The main idea was to create something different and original. Not just a single-family house, but an abstract form.

The architects wanted to create a building that refers to the mountainous area, a house that seems to be a result of tectonics and not design processes. This thought was the starting point of the project and the frame that kept the space composition in check. Therefore, MUS Architects tried to design and implement the concept of a space by escaping the standards associated with single-family houses. They wanted this house to appear like an erratic boulder embedded in a mountain slope, not an architectural form with walls, windows and a roof. The plot is situated on the slope of the mountain. It has a clear decline both in the south and east. The initial plan of the house was adjusted to the slope so that the entire ground floor sits on the ground surface. Based on the natural terrain, the horizontal floor plan was broken half way through. As a result, the entrance zone with a garage and supplementary rooms is on a different level from the living room, kitchen and dining room. A half-floor has been created so the entire living area is directly connected with the terrace and garden. This design process led to the division of floors in the night part of the house (first floor) and as a consequence we created the multi-pitched roof, whose refractions follow the faults resulting from the house’s functional layout in the actual area. The building's geometry was built into the topography of the mountain, highly impacting the house’s structure and its final dynamic form. There is a strong relationship between the building and the surrounding landscape. The external character of the house is formed by its multi-layered form as well as by the material which was used as a packaging of the function. The homogeneous and raw black shell conceals internal spaces and levels.

The ground and first floors are connected by a single-flight, reinforced concrete staircase. A non-usable part of the attic is accessible via a folding loft ladder. The building is a monovolume compact house. The form and dimensions of the building result from functional conditions as well as from the plot. It has characteristic contemporary, simple shape. The building is detached, with a multipitched roof (a slope of 25⁰ and 42⁰ ). The walls and roof of the building are homogeneous and uniform - finished with the same material. The niches in the black block of the house are finished with a larch elevation board. In the south, large solid glazing and windows provide direct access from the living room to the terrace and from the rooms on the first floor – to the balcony and loggias.

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Recent Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 7, 2026
Inspired by Madrid’s long-lost Champs-Élysées, the HOFF designed by El Departamento, reinterprets the historic boulevard concept as a contemporary retail space where architecture, craftsmanship, and experience come together.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
From 7 to 10 March 2026 , Hometex Shenzhen 2026 will welcome international professionals to Shenzhen for one of Asia’s most influential trade fairs dedicated to home textiles and soft furnishings.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
UNUM Architecture, the visionary Portuguese design studio led by architect Miguel Ibraim da Rocha, has been named a Winner of the Best Luxury Commercial Architecture category by the prestigious Luxury Lifestyle Awards , for their exceptional work on the Metyis Technology Center in Gondomar, Portugal. This international recognition places UNUM among the global elite of architectural design firms, celebrated for their fusion of human-centered philosophy, refined aesthetics, and sustainable commercial architecture.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine March 3, 2026
In the ever-evolving Mokotów district, where glass office towers rise beside traces of the city’s industrial past, Vienna House by Wyndham Mokotow Warsaw stands as a refined interpretation of contrast. The hotel captures the spirit of a capital that has rebuilt and redefined itself, blending brutalist echoes and a cleaner, more contemporary integration that reflects the innovative pulse of modern Warsaw.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.
By G&G _ Magazine December 2, 2025
Situated in a prime location in the heart of the city, WestCord Eindhoven reveals its newly renovation that blends heritage, contemporary design, smart technology, and refined hospitality. The hotel’s refreshed identity marks a new chapter where history and innovation coexist, offering guests an elevated stay that feels both stylish and intuitively comfortable.