A mountain house in dialogue with its surroundings
In Bystra, at the foot of the Beskid Mountains, a house has been created that does not attempt to compete with the landscape. Instead, it integrates with it thoughtfully, drawing from natural materials and the identity of the place. This is a project designed from the ground up by Maria and Jacek Rypuła – architects and founders of the Gie El brand.
Architecture as a walk
From the very beginning, the house in Bystra was more a process than a finished vision. Maria and Jacek describe it as a walk they embarked on together with the investors – without a rigid plan, but with openness to context, landscape, and decisions emerging along the way. This approach allowed the architecture to respond naturally to the place and its people, rather than imposing a predetermined form.
The investors had only two key requirements: the house was to be both open and protective. On one hand, it was meant to be a space with expansive glazing and wide views of Pilsko and the Tatra Mountains. On the other, it was to feel like a safe, cozy “cave,” rooted firmly in the ground. These seemingly contradictory needs come together here in a harmonious whole, defining the character of the project.
Their material counterpart is found in a raw, honest palette. Glass, stone, concrete, steel, and wood create an architecture that does not dominate, but resonates with its surroundings. The house matures together with the place, changing with time and light, embracing the patina of use as a natural part of its identity.
The entrance hall – light that invites you in
Już od progu dom zdradza swój charakter. Ciężkie, drewniane drzwi otwierają się na przestrzeń, która bardziej przypomina galerię sztuki niż klasyczny hall. Betonowa posadzka, deski o nieregularnej strukturze, stalowe akcenty i obrazy autorstwa Inwestorki budują harmonijne, ale wyraziste tło.
A living room that changes with the time of day and year
In the living area, above a large wooden table, hangs a chandelier from the BUBBLES series, designed specifically for this interior. Full, organic shades made of hand-formed glass, with air bubbles embedded inside, introduce softness and subtlety into the otherwise austere architecture.
The BUBBLES shades work with light in two ways. They reflect the warm glow of the bulbs, but also the sunlight streaming in through the large windows. The air bubbles trapped in the glass multiply reflections from both sources, creating hundreds of tiny golden points. As a result, the light changes with the time of day and the seasons, and the chandelier enters into a dialogue with the landscape, allowing views of the Tatras and Pilsko to become a natural extension of the interior.Materials, people, process
What resonates most strongly in this project is the importance of process and dialogue. Not only between architects and investors, but also with craftsmen and with the materials themselves. Every element was Wybierzed and assembled with care, piece by piece, preceded by tests and conversations that informed the final decisions. It is a story of rootedness, attentiveness, and a relationship with place. And of light that does not dominate, but accompanies.Light as part of the story
The BIRDS and BUBBLES chandeliers are not accessories here. They are an integral part of the architecture – elements that bind the space together, emphasize its character, and allow light to become a carrier of emotion. The house in Bystra shows that architecture and light can change and mature together over time.