Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu by Katarzyna Starzyk

Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu by Katarzyna Starzyk is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ụlọ Owu, Ụlọ na Ihe Owuwu Competition Category.

BronzỤlọ Owu· 2026

Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu

by Katarzyna Starzyk

Client: APAKASTA Studio of Katarzyna Starzyk

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ụlọ Owu Category

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The Design

About Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu

Ederede Akwụkwọ: Hilltop Homestead na-egosi ụlọ e hazichara dịka mpịakọta abụọ e sitere n'ọba anụ ụlọ chọpụta echiche ya, nke jikọtara site n'ụzọ ngafe akwadoro n'iko nke na-etolite ogige n'etiti ha. Atụmatụ ahụ na-ahazi ụlọ ahụ ka ọ bụrụ mpaghara maka ibi ndụ, ntụrụndụ na izu ike. Ebe obibi nwere elu okpukpu abụọ na-emeghe n'ihu ubi ma jikọọ na oghere ndị dị n'èzí. Ebe ndị ọzọ agbakwụnyere gụnyere ebe spa nwere ọdọ mmiri na ọnụụlọ maka ntụrụndụ. Akụkụ ụfọdụ nke ụlọ ahụ nwere ike ịdakọrịtara na mkpa na-agbanwe agbanwe ka oge na-aga. Nhazi ahụ na-echekwa mmekọrịta doro anya n'etiti ụlọ ahụ, ọrụ kwa ụbọchị na ala gburugburu ya, ebe ọ na-eduzi mmegharị n'akụkụ isi ogige ahụ.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Hilltop Homestead Ọrụ Bụ Isi: Ụlọ Ezinụlọ Otu na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The project consists of two barn style volumes connected by a glazed link, forming a private internal courtyard at the heart of the homestead. The 510 square meter layout includes an 8 meter high living area, a children’s wing with a recreational attic, a private parents’ attic suite, a spa zone, a courtyard pool and an extensive garage system. One volume is designed for future adaptation into a fully independent 90 square meter apartment, ensuring long term flexibility.
Dimensions & Packaging: The homestead provides a total floor area of 487.01 square meters and a footprint of 555.53 square meters, situated on a spacious plot of 10 517 square meters. It is composed of two barn-style volumes linked by a glazed connector, featuring an inner courtyard with a swimming pool, a spa zone, a double garage and a freestanding three-car garage. The layout also allows one building to be transformed into a fully independent 90 square meter apartment, ensuring long-term adaptability.
Tags: Modern barn, homestead, family house, countryside architecture, contemporary barns
Production Technology: The design was developed through a functional division into two modern barn style buildings connected by a glazed link. The concept emphasizes spacious interiors, large glazing, covered terraces and a protected courtyard with a pool and spa zone. The planning strategy allows future conversion of one volume into a standalone 90 square meter apartment. The project focuses on spatial clarity, flexibility and coherent organization of external and internal areas.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was to fit a 510 square meter program into a clear layout that follows the natural elevation of the site. Dividing the design into two volumes linked by glazing enabled efficient functional planning and a homestead character. Ensuring future adaptability led to the option of creating a 90 square meter independent apartment while maintaining coherent outdoor spaces and a strong visual axis.
Research: The project explores how modern barn architecture can organize the living space of a large family on a spacious, elevated rural plot. The design examines functional zoning, the use of separate volumes connected transparently, and the creation of a private courtyard as the organizing element of the homestead. The flexibility to convert one building into an independent apartment further supports long term usability. The research focuses on achieving clarity, comfort, and adaptability while maintaining the typology of a contemporary countryside residence.
Inspiration: The design was inspired by the ambition to create a contemporary homestead for a family with three children on a large, elevated plot in Radwankow Krolewski. The site’s spacious, natural setting led to the concept of two modern barn style buildings forming a functional and harmonious whole. The aim was to reinterpret the rural atmosphere through clear zoning, generous spaces and a strong relationship with the surrounding landscape.
Project Duration: Design work was completed in 2024, while the construction of the house began in 2025. The project is located in Radwankow Krolewski, Poland, on a spacious plot positioned on a natural elevation, which strongly influenced the arrangement of the homestead and the organization of its functional zones.
Operation Flow: Circulation is organized along a visual axis leading to a tree integrated into the terrace roof, establishing spatial hierarchy. A glazed connector links the two volumes while maintaining their independence. Outdoor areas including the terrace, courtyard, pool and spa extend the living space and form a continuous sequence of functions. Clear zoning separates parents areas and children areas, while a covered passage enables sheltered movement between the garages and the house.
Patents: Copyrights belong to APAKASTA (APA Katarzyna Starzyk)
Team Members: Katarzyna Starzyk
Image Credits: Visualisations and renders credits: Piotr Packanik