Set beside the tranquil, crystal clear waters of Lake Kownatki in the Polish Masuria region, a new enclave of holiday homes is taking shape – one that may well become a benchmark for uncompromising leisure architecture in Poland. The 36-hectare Kownatki Lake House development introduces itself to the world through a show home designed by the Gdańsk based studio, Archmondo.

Kownatki Lake House is a project built on a refusal to compromise – in both the architecture and the landscape. From the outset, the developer Rohe set out to create a project Poland had not seen before.

A major asset is its setting: Lake Kownatki, a 217-hectare body of exceptionally clean water and a haven for anglers and watersport enthusiasts alike. Sandy shores, private jetties, surrounding forests, and a profound sense of peace make it an ideal retreat from urban life.

Piotr Kowalczyk, the architect behind the project, explains: – The architecture of the place began with a clear brief: to give the best possible form to a clearly defined function, which was to create a dream-come-true second home for families with children and their guests. The houses are generous and comfortable, with four separate bedrooms allowing both hosts and visitors to stay in privacy and ease.

The design draws on the vernacular architecture of Masuria and Warmia – the classic gabled cottage on a simple rectangular footprint. The envelope combines a ventilated composite aluminum façade (ACP) with charred Siberian larch slats, aluminum windows, and a standing‑seam metal roof. The wood was charred using the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. This centuries-old method gives the timber a striking, textured finish while ensuring exceptional durability. The material will silver and soften over time, allowing the houses to recede ever further into the wooded landscape.

Inside and out, the design is quietly restrained: a muted palette, natural materials, and nothing superfluous. The intention was that the house should feel calm and restorative from the moment you arrive. Large expanses of glass, a broad terrace, and thoughtfully designed planting blur the threshold between interior and landscape, drawing the surroundings into the heart of the home. The landscape design is the work of topoScape, a studio whose credentials include a nomination for the 2025 Mies van der Rohe Award for Warsaw Uprising Mound.

Shared Life, Personal Space Inside, the plan encourages family life while giving everyone room of their own. A double-height living space with a fireplace, open to the kitchen and dining area, forms the heart of the house. Three bedrooms – including a master suite with an en-suite bathroom – are arranged on either side. A sculptural staircase rises from the center to an open mezzanine that can serve as a workspace or a play area for children. A further bedroom with its own bathroom occupies the opposite end of the upper floor.

The interior palette centers on ash and spruce – used for the roof soffit, staircase, mezzanine flooring, and kitchen fronts – alongside architectural concrete, which forms the ground floor surface. Slim-framed, full-height glazing commands attention, including elegant sliding doors that open the house on two sides: towards the terrace and garden, and to the front. Each ground-floor bedroom also has its own direct access to the garden.

Plots range from 1,200 to 2,000 square meters – generous enough to guarantee space and seclusion. The first phase of the development will deliver 20 homes of between 90 and 110 square meters.

Kownatki Lake House stands out not only for its meticulously crafted architecture, but also for the breadth and quality of its planned amenities. As many as 14 hectares of the site will be dedicated to shared green spaces, including a private beach, a pier and recreational jetties, tennis, padel and volleyball courts, an outdoor gym, and a playground. In subsequent phases, the development will also be complemented by a restaurant and a wellness zone.

The entire estate is designed to function as a gated community with concierge services, ranging from housekeeping and garden maintenance to the delivery of local products – allowing residents to fully focus on rest and leisure.