Forest House, known locally as Dom Las, stands as a testament to patient land stewardship and thoughtful architectural design in Nowa Wieś Lęborska, Poland. Completed in 2022 by the emerging firm Studio Onu, this residential project encompasses two distinct structures that serve dual purposes for the client who purchased the seven-hectare property 25 years ago. The buildings reflect a deep conversation between the vernacular traditions of Poland's Kashubia region and contemporary sustainable practices, creating a harmonious relationship with the transformed landscape.
The client's quarter-century journey began with an empty field and a vision for the future. Through meticulous silviculture practices, including selective weeding and thinning of young pine and birch saplings, the once-disused land has evolved into a varied and attractive landscape that mirrors the native flora of the region. This careful cultivation process shaped every design decision Studio Onu made, as the architecture needed to support both the ongoing maintenance of the land and provide occasional shelter for the client's family. The result is a pair of buildings that speak to each other through material language and spatial arrangement.
Local materials form the foundation of the project's aesthetic and environmental philosophy. The pinewood used for both structural elements and interior furniture creates continuity between the surrounding parkland and the living spaces within. Bricks sourced from a nearby brickyard echo the earthy tones of the regional soil, while green hues from the pine forest appear throughout the interior in surface treatments and glazed ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms. The fireplace, traditionally the heart of Polish homes, occupies the literal center of the main house, framed by carefully composed vistas from every room that contrast glimpses of the cultivated parkland beyond.
The Kashubia region's renowned craftsmanship traditions are celebrated through numerous custom details. Local artisans created delicate metalwork shutters featuring fine fretwork that filters natural light while providing protection from the elements. The brick façade patterning emerged from close collaboration with a master brickworker who understood the region's traditional ornamentation, embroidery, and textural richness. This partnership yielded a modern reinterpretation of historical motifs that honors cultural memory while embracing contemporary expression. Studio Onu also designed custom dining and coffee tables inspired by Kashubia's turned-wood furniture traditions, refined into elegant modern forms.
Family heirlooms and personal narratives are woven throughout the interior, creating layers of meaning beyond architectural form. The client inherited precious examples of family craftsmanship that Studio Onu carefully integrated into the design, framing connections between personal history and the landscape. A large tapestry depicting poppies serves as a focal point, reflecting the wildflowers that now germinate naturally across the grasslands. This intentional blurring of interior and exterior boundaries reinforces the project's central theme: a celebration of land that has been lovingly tended for decades. The 100-square-meter project demonstrates how architecture can honor both place and patience.
Studio Onu, led by architect Kuba Tomaszczyk, worked with design collaborators Hania Idziak, Yewon Ji, Ryan Otterson, and Niki Murata to realize this vision. Civil and mechanical engineer Stanisław Tomaszczyk provided technical expertise, while photographer Martyna Rudnicka documented the completed work. The project has garnered attention for its sensitive approach to regional identity and sustainable construction practices, offering a model for how contemporary architecture can engage meaningfully with cultural heritage and environmental responsibility. Forest House proves that the most successful designs often grow from deep understanding of both land and legacy.
