This Modern House in Poland Has A Moving Terrace

The Quadrant House gives new meaning to the whole concept of modern home by breaking the mold and standing out in a very cool and at the same time unusual way. The house was designed and built by studio KWK Promes in 2018 and is located in Poland. Its owners wanted it to be a simple, sunny and relaxing retreat and had a fairly clear vision for the design which included a flat roof. However, the local building regulations imposed a sloping roof so the design strategy had to be adapted. As a result, the street side of the house featured a gable roof which gradually and seamlessly transitions into a flat roof on the side facing the garden.

The quadrant motif is visible throughout the house in many different forms, hence the name of the project
The quadrant motif is visible throughout the house in many different forms, hence the name of the project
The moving terrace is the house's coolest feature by far. It follows the movement of the sun, providing shade throughout the day
The moving terrace is the house’s coolest feature by far. It follows the movement of the sun, providing shade throughout the day
During the day the terrace slowly moves within the courtyard, making the indoor-outdoor transition seamless in a very special way
During the day the terrace slowly moves within the courtyard, making the indoor-outdoor transition seamless in a very special way
The side of the house facing the street was designed to offer as much privacy as possible and has no windows or openings
The side of the house facing the street was designed to offer as much privacy as possible and has no windows or openings

This house is unique in the sense that it’s both standard and non-standard and not just because of its roof shape. The element which stands out the most is the terrace. At any given time it may look just like a regular covered terrace designed to complement the indoor spaces. But this isn’t by any means an ordinary terrace. It’s a terrace that follows the movement of the sun throughout the day and physically moves little by little using a fully automated mechanism made by Comstal. Manual control is also possible in the event a certain particular placement is preferred for a specific occasion.

The sections facing the garden open up to the outdoor is a very natural and organic manner
The sections facing the garden open up to the outdoor is a very natural and organic manner
Because the terrace doesn't have a fixed position grass can grow underneath it
Because the terrace doesn’t have a fixed position grass can grow underneath it
The mechanism which moves the terrace is fully automated so the owners don't have to worry about a thing
The mechanism which moves the terrace is fully automated so the owners don’t have to worry about a thing
Compared to the neighboring houses, this one is visibly different even though it respects the local building guidelines
Compared to the neighboring houses, this one is visibly different even though it respects the local building guidelines
The Quadrant house is minimalist inside and out and looks bright, airy and stylish from every angle
The Quadrant house is minimalist inside and out and looks bright, airy and stylish from every angle
The house has two main volumes arranged perpendicularly to one another
The house has two main volumes arranged perpendicularly to one another
The automated terrace is moving between the perpendicularly volumes, being adjacent to either one of the other
The automated terrace is moving between the perpendicularly volumes, being adjacent to either one of the other
This automated movement ensures that the terrace is always offering shade by following the movement of the sun
This automated movement ensures that the terrace is always offering shade by following the movement of the sun
The house was designed to enjoy shade during summer and to let more sunlight in during the winter
The house was designed to enjoy shade during summer and to let more sunlight in during the winter
On the outside, the entire structure is white and has a very clean and minimalistic aesthetic
On the outside, the entire structure is white and has a very clean and minimalistic aesthetic
At certain points during the day, the living area and the terrace and seamlessly connected
At certain points during the day, the living area and the terrace and seamlessly connected
The terrace has a floor and a roof which become flush with the house volumes when connected
The terrace has a floor and a roof which become flush with the house volumes when connected
This unique design blurs the boundaries between architecture and landscape in unexpected ways
This unique design blurs the boundaries between architecture and landscape in unexpected ways