UMBRA.

Project idea

54.598884 ° N, 16.915316° W
ORZECHOWO, POLAND

umbra (from Latin: shadow) - a term typically used in reference to eclipse. In Polish language, this term is used in reference to a natural pigment used in painting, closely resembling clay in color.

We are sensory beings: how can we be one with Nature?

Project description

The visual richness of light and shadow accompanies us every day. A home devoid of artificial light must cater to its occupants by engaging their active senses. 80% of the information received from the external world is processed by the human visual system, making it one of the most important senses in the body. In the absence of light, we rely on the sense of touch.

The proposed structure focuses mainly on these two senses: sight and touch. Staying in this clay summer cabin provides its users with the opportunity to connect with nature through rich sensory experiences of interacting with the clay structure and the visual beauty of shadows.

Orzechowo by the Baltic Sea features coastal cliffs and a lush forest, changing from green in summer to golden in autumn. The cliffs are mostly made of glacial clay, with a mixture of rock material in the form of gravel and sand. The project uses clay as the primary building material, inspiring various design decisions. Clay bricks are used to fill the walls and construct the vault, mimicking the natural curvature of the cliff. Clay is also used for flooring and decorative textured plaster on walls, mirroring the cliff's horizontal lines.

Clay, being a particularly rich sensory material, allows residents to experience a material found in the environment throughout their stay in the summer cabin.
Rammed earth walls, situated outdoors on the southern side of the building, mimic the nearby cliff's horizontal bands. Wooden roots and branches, found in the environment of Orzechowo, are used as interior elements. Boughs serve as filling for the external walls, inspired by gabion baskets traditionally used to protect cliffs from erosion.

Additionally, wooden sticks are used as window screens, filtering light and producing a soft shadow into the interior spaces. The wooden elements are designed to stimulate the visual experience as effectively and efficiently as possible in this project. It aims to explore the significance of sensory design, driven by the increasing ecological awareness of society. Sensory experiences not only connect people with nature on a deeper level but also create stronger, longer-lasting memories in individuals.

It is only when we connect with and care for something that we begin to take action.

Based on an analysis of the existing environment, a project has been developed proposing an architectural structure referencing materials and forms found in the surrounding natural environment.

Technical information

Clay, being a particularly rich sensory material, allows residents to experience a material found in the environment throughout their stay in the summer cabin.
Rammed earth walls, situated outdoors on the southern side of the building, mimic the nearby cliff's horizontal bands. Wooden roots and branches, found in the environment of Orzechowo, are used as interior elements. Boughs serve as filling for the external walls, inspired by gabion baskets traditionally used to protect cliffs from erosion.

Additionally, wooden sticks are used as window screens, filtering light and producing a soft shadow into the interior spaces. The wooden elements are designed to stimulate the visual experience as effectively and efficiently as possible in this project. It aims to explore the significance of sensory design, driven by the increasing ecological awareness of society. Sensory experiences not only connect people with nature on a deeper level but also create stronger, longer-lasting memories in individuals.