The PERISCOPE - Allows you to look further and see more

Periscope is a house with an unusual form, whose genesis lies in the problem we wanted to solve.
We are located right by the lake, yet it cannot be seen from the plot because it is surrounded by an earth embankment, and the site lies below it.
Therefore, the aim of the project was to obtain a view.

IDEA
In the process of conceptual synthesis, we combine function and form into a unified symbol in order to achieve what the plot itself does not offer, but which is nevertheless within reach — a view of Lake Żywiec. We wanted to literally “look” beyond the obstacle formed by the earth embankment.
When developing the house concept, we chose a three-storey building, reversing the traditional layout and moving the entire living area to the top floor.
The functional layout, the structure of the volume, and the idea of obtaining a view over the earth embankment allowed us to formally and symbolically refer to the instrument known as a periscope.
A periscope is an optical device used to observe objects beyond the observer’s line of sight or hidden by obstacles, while the house we designed is an architectural interpretation of the function and form of a periscope.

FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM
The house’s functional program is distributed across three levels in a reversed scheme.
We decided to raise the living area as high as possible in order to secure a view above the embankment line and thus provide the designed space with an outlook over the lake and its opposite shore.
The ground floor contains the entrance zone with a hall, a two-car garage, and a spa area with direct access to the garden on the western side of the plot. The first floor contains the entire night zone — bedrooms and a bathroom. The top floor contains the living room with dining area and kitchen, as well as a small toilet. The living area is glazed across the full width of the volume on the lake side, which allowed us to achieve a wide panoramic view and blur the boundary between interior and exterior.
On the northern side of the house volume, there is a separate staircase connecting all floors. In addition, a freight lift has been located in the garage, allowing groceries and goods to be transported directly to the kitchen located next to the living area.

SUMMARY
The house reflects the conceptual and functional assumptions. Its modern, integrated, and coherent form creates a recognizable presence in space — the “Periscope” that allows you to look further and see more.
The designed space makes it possible to admire the surrounding landscape on multiple levels — from the terraces by the bedrooms in the private zone, and also, most importantly, from the elevated living area above the embankment surrounding the lake, where we designed the “eye of the Periscope” — a panoramic view of the lake and the rolling landscape of the Beskid Żywiecki

The house reflects the conceptual and functional assumptions. Its modern, integrated, and coherent form creates a recognizable presence in space — the “Periscope” that allows you to look further and see more.
The designed space makes it possible to admire the surrounding landscape on multiple levels — from the terraces by the bedrooms in the private zone, and also, most importantly, from the elevated living area above the embankment surrounding the lake, where we designed the “eye of the Periscope” — a panoramic view of the lake and the rolling landscape of the Beskid Żywiecki