Warsaw-based architecture firm 77 Studio has completed an innovative residential project called 'House on the Slope,' which cleverly integrates into the natural landscape along the banks of Poland's Vistula River. The unique home was designed for a client who had long admired a specific viewpoint overlooking the river, and the architects conceived the structure to frame and preserve the site's distinctive panoramic views of water, vegetation, and the distant city skyline.

The design process focused primarily on positioning the building to capture the most compelling perspectives of the surrounding landscape. Rather than following conventional property line alignments, the architects deliberately rotated the structure to follow the natural contours of the slope, revealing the full breadth of the riverbank below. This strategic positioning maximizes views of both the slope's base and the expansive Vistula River beyond, creating a seamless connection between the interior spaces and the natural environment.

77 Studio employed a minimal intervention approach by embedding the house close to the edge of the slope, with the floor level positioned below grade to blend seamlessly into the existing topography. This design choice effectively shields the new construction from the visual dominance of a neighboring traditional home while maintaining a coherent architectural profile along the promontory. The approach also preserves the wild meadow that leads up to the slope, creating an element of discovery as visitors navigate through the landscape.

The entry sequence features a carefully designed corten steel-lined driveway that is cut directly into the landscape, leading to a recessed arrival courtyard. This sunken arrival area provides a quiet transitional moment before the interior spaces open dramatically to reveal the river views. By strategically controlling when the panoramic views are revealed, the architecture enhances the relationship between enclosed and expansive spaces, framing the slope and water in a deliberate visual sequence.

From the riverside perspective, the House on the Slope presents only a thin cornice line against the horizon, with much of its volume extending back into the slope to reduce visual impact and maintain the integrity of the natural escarpment. A green roof system further conceals the structure, featuring native plantings that blend fluidly with the vegetation species naturally found along the river's edge. The design eliminates traditional fencing, allowing wild shrubs to form a natural perimeter that reinforces the building's integration with its surroundings.

Natural light enters the home through strategically positioned patios that are cut directly into the slope, effectively drawing greenery into the heart of the floor plan. These thoughtful interventions successfully balance the need for adequate natural illumination with the architects' desire to maintain a low building profile that remains fully integrated with the surrounding landscape. The facades and driveway edges feature thick corten steel panel cladding, giving the structure a grounded, substantial quality despite its recessed form.

The garage doors are concealed behind matching corten steel panels to maintain visual continuity across all exterior surfaces. This material choice also creates a strong connection between the building and the earthy tones found throughout the riverbank and meadow environments. The weathering steel's natural patina process ensures that the building will continue to blend more seamlessly with its natural setting over time.

Inside the home, the 450-square-meter single-story floor plan arranges the primary living spaces toward the southeast to capture optimal natural light and river views throughout the day. The main living room features impressive twelve-meter-wide sliding glass doors that open completely to a terrace overlooking the Vistula River, creating an seamless indoor-outdoor living experience. The kitchen and dining areas occupy a bright southern corner position, while the bedrooms are strategically positioned along the southwest side of the home, ensuring that each sleeping space maintains visual contact with the river below.