Spellbinding Curved Roof on This Cottage in Poland is Out of a Fairytale

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

At the foot of the Tatra Mountain in the village of Bukowina Tatrzańskasits an enchanting home designed by Sebastian Piton. 

This whimsical house was built by architect Sebastian Piton in Poland. The shapes of the roofs bring to mind 19th century architecture, specifically the Zakopane Style (Styl zakopiański) architecture inspired by the folk art and architecture of Poland's highland region. The Zakopane Style combines wooden framing and reinforced stone structures with elements of Art Nouveau, giving the houses under its design an enchanting fairytale look.  

"I was inspired by the works of the Catalan architect Antoni Guadi. I believe architecture was at its peak while it was operating,” Sebastian told Fachowy Dekarz & Cieśla in an interview. Gaudi is known for softened roof curves, with timber framing and eyebrow roof dormers. The amazing craftmanship has clearly influenced Sebastian’s signature soft curved roofs, balconies and turrets in his designs.  

This design is custom work made from wood by Sebastian himself. He grew up learning the skills of woodwork with his grandfather and uncle, who were both carpenters. He tells Fachowy Dekarz & Cieśla “It smells like wood all around,” that is why he loves being on the construction site for the installation of his specifically shaped roofs. “You can learn on a regular basis, experiment with form, technique...construction is my passion!” adds Sebastian. 

Curved roofs are fairly new designs that concentrate on aesthetics more than durability, so they must be designed carefully by an experienced architect for maximum comfort and efficiency. Sebastian admits that the smooth shape of the homes make them difficult to build and design, with plenty of challenges.  

“My buildings have flowing shapes, traditional methods or techniques are not enough to create them,” says Sebastian. “They require a lot of discipline, both from me at the stage of designing harmonious shapes and from the contractors to obtain them. Therefore, they are a challenge for even experienced highland carpenters.” 

However, the end result of these flowing roofs is undeniably breathtaking. Sebastian's designs are as beautiful as they are imaginative, it is no wonder his designs evoke comparisons to the dreamhouses of our childhoods.  

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