ARCHIGEUM Sp. z o.o.: Winner of Architect of the Year Awards 2024. The house design is part of Fort X located next to the Vistula River, 2.5 km from the very center of Toruń, where Nicolaus Copernicus was born. Fort X is part of the 19th-century Toruń Fortress. It was built in the years 1889-1892 as an open artillery battery.

The purpose of this fortification was to control the Vistula Valley from the west. It is secured by a 36-meter-wide wet moat with an infantry bunker located in the back.

The current terrain of the fort is largely distorted and leveled. The design activities focused on, among others, restoring the outlines of earth fortifications such as: artillery positions with traverses and shooting benches. The project of developing the fort and reconstructing the earth fortifications was implemented on the basis of historical construction plans that were created at the end of the 19th century.

The fort has been designed to house a hotel and conference facility, which will be housed in the existing shelter and in newly designed buildings. The new volumes are hidden in the fort’s terrain. These include a conference and banquet hall with a catering function and the owner of the complex’s house.

Our assessment includes the design of the house in which the owner of the entire complex plans to live. The entire Fort X will be brought back to life and made available to residents.

The aim of the house design was to fit into the fortification in such a way that the volume would be invisible from its central part. The house was built in the lowest part of the complex – by the moat. In addition, the aim of the house’s location was to establish a relationship with water. The house has two storeys – the living area is located on the floor above. The private area with the technical facilities is located in the structure of the terrain. The roof of the building, like the entire fort, is covered with grass. We used simple procedures and used terrace boards obtained from a local sawmill on the front elevation.

The main concept of the building is its integration with the fortification and the surrounding landscape located among trees and fields stretching to the horizon. The proximity of water is a positive value for the residents of the house.

Since the Fort will serve commercial functions, the intimate zone of the house is located on the lower floor and will be partially covered with earth. The windows are located on the south and west – from the water side – the historic moat. This type of solution protects the house and provides greater privacy. Living in this house, a person has nature, landscape, water, diverse vegetation and wild animals at their fingertips.

Vegetation helps increase biodiversity, support the ecosystem and improve air quality.

Energy, water and the sewage system are subject to the principles of use in a closed circuit

The flat roof supports the green roof providing thermal comfort and covered with grass refers to the surroundings. Photovoltaic panels optimize energy consumption. The generated electricity is used for lighting and water heating and is stored in a solar battery.

Rainwater collection systems and domestic sewage treatment plants have also been used to reduce water consumption. Thanks to ecological thinking, the cobatures hidden in the ground and covered with grass contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. The aim of the entire Fort and house is to live in harmony with each other and with nature.

Ecological materials and technologies will be used to build the house, such as natural insulation, elimination of toxic substances.

The revitalization of FORT X and the construction of the house by the moat is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Project Details:-
Firm
ARCHIGEUM Sp. z o.o.

Architect
Przemysław Gawęda

Project Name
House by the Moat – FORT X

Project Category
Housing Concept

Team
Przemek Gawęda, Marcin Sajdak, Dariusz Witucki, Oleh Kyshliaruk

Project Location
Toruń / Poland

Country
Poland

Photography ©Credit
Oleh Kyshliaruk