RDM STUDIOArchitecture & Interiors
Contemporary Minimalist Barn — Gorlice, Poland · 2024

Hilltop House

A contemporary minimalist barn in Gorlice — a pitched-roof form rooted in local tradition, opened to the landscape through two fully glazed façades and sheltered by deep overhangs.

Hilltop House
Garden facade — the house opens toward the landscape and view, with the deck sheltered beneath the deep roof overhang.

The design emerged as a direct response to its exceptionally picturesque setting and immediate surroundings. The concept reflects the local traditional style with a pitched roof and a simple, compact form. Two of the four façades are fully glazed, providing natural daylight throughout the day. The extended roof edges create generous overhangs, allowing comfortable use of the terraces and balconies regardless of weather conditions.

Sheltered outdoor deck beneath the balcony above, with a figure leaning against the wall holding a glass of wine
Outdoor deck — sheltered beneath the balcony above and set apart from the glass wall, it works as a true extension of the interior — a quiet place to pause with a glass of wine in hand.
Double-height interior open to the upper floor, with the open staircase and full-height glazed wall
Two-level interior — the ground floor opens to a double-height space, allowing an immersive experience of the fully glazed walls, with a level shift dividing living and dining without barriers.

The ground floor is partially open to a double-height space, enabling an immersive experience of the fully glazed walls. An additional level shift between the living room and dining area allows the space to be divided without physical barriers or obstructing views.

An open staircase leads to the upper floor, which is partially open to enhance the sense of spaciousness and lightness. The first floor includes a bathroom and two bedrooms — each with a private, roof-sheltered balcony.

Courtyard between two volumes — pale stone and charred timber walls meeting a glazed glass link, with ornamental grasses set in dark gravel
Courtyard between the volumes — pale stone and charred timber frame a glazed link, where the paved ground meets a quiet garden of grasses and gravel.
Upstairs bathroom under the pitched roof with a long skylight along the rafters
Upstairs bathroom — a skylight cut into the pitched roof traces light across the timber ribs.
Project animation — a walkthrough of the spaces.