o4 architekci & michał kucharski convert previous windmill into charming polish house

this four-story windmill gets a modern makeover and a new level by o4 architekci & michał kucharski 

sited in lublin, poland, amid rural lands, a once disused windmill has been converted into a modern and intimate getaway home. architect michał kucharski joined forces with o4 architekci’s mateusz piwowarski to complete the project, focusing on preserving the structure’s rustic details while adding their contemporary touch. the architects worked around the windmill’s limiting vertical layout, successfully restoring and modernizing its original four-story interior while adding a fifth level — a basement floor — that extends the first-floor living room. 

all images © rafał chojnacki

michał kucharski and mateusz piwowarski (see more here) incorporated a reading room, kitchen, dining room, and terrace on the first level while housing the bedroom and bathrooms on the two upper floors. the fourth level is a mezzanine, now functioning as a workspace that opens onto a picturesque sight of the polish landscape thanks to a set of large windows. moving to the basement, the architects fitted it with a technical room, garage, guest lounge, and service area. owners and visitors can directly access the property garden from that new lower-ground level. 

revamping the windmill structure using reinforced concrete, wood and glass

materials wise, the team used reinforced concrete, wood, and glass to meet the new demands of the renovated windmill house. the reinforced concrete was used to build new pillars and slabs. at the same time, reclaimed wood and carbonized planks were clad onto the outer walls — reinforcing material durability and visual harmony with the surroundings. complementing that historical feel are vertical and horizontal glazed openings that respond to each floor’s spatial program. the vertical ones emphasize the facade’s narrow cladding pattern; the horizontal ones visually link the living spaces to the garden area. as a final touch, the dismantled mill wheel and trestle have been restored onto the building as a way to preserve the structure’s rustic flair.