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Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo by Katarzyna Starzyk

Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo by Katarzyna Starzyk is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Ìkọ́lé, Ilé àti Ètò Competition Category.


IdẹÌkọ́lé· 2026

Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo

by Katarzyna Starzyk

Client: APAKASTA Studio of Katarzyna Starzyk

Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award Winner in Ìkọ́lé Category

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The Design

About Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo

Ọ̀rọ̀ Ìwé: Hilltop Homestead ṣàfihàn ilé kan tí a ṣètò gẹ́gẹ́ bí àpò méjì tí ìrísí àká ṣe ìkọ́, tí a so pọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ọ̀nà àbáwọlé onígílásì tí ó ṣẹ̀dá àgbàlá láàrin wọn. Ètò náà ṣàṣètò ilé náà sí àwọn agbègbè fún gbígbé, ìrọ̀rùn àti ìsinmi. Agbègbè gbígbé tí ó ga ní ìlọ́po méjì ṣí sí ọ̀nà ọgbà, ó sì so pọ̀ pẹ̀lú àwọn àyè òde. Àwọn agbègbè mìíràn ní hòtẹ́ẹ̀lì ìtọ́jú ara pẹ̀lú adágún omi àti àwọn yàrá fún eré ìdárayá. Àwọn apá kan ilé náà lè ṣàtúnṣe sí àwọn àìní tí ó ń yí padà pẹ̀lú àkókò. Ìsètò náà ń ṣàkóso ìbáṣepọ̀ tó ṣe kedere láàrin ilé náà, àwọn iṣẹ́ ojoojúmọ́ àti àyíká àdúgbò, nígbà tí ó ń tọ́ ìmúgbé lọ ní ọ̀nà àárín àgbàlá.

The Recognition

About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award

Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ olókìkí gan-an tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe tó tayọ tí wọ́n yàtọ̀ nípasẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀dá, àrékérekè àti ọgbọ́n inú. Àwọn olùborí Idẹ jẹ́ àwọn ohun èlò tó ní ìjáfáfá gan-an tí wọ́n sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá tó yani lẹ́nu tí wọ́n ń ṣe ẹ̀rí ìrírí gbígbòòrò, ìrònú àti ọgbọ́n àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo yóò jẹ́ ohun tí a kà sí gidigidi, tí a gbóríyìn fún tí a sì nífẹ̀ẹ́, tó jẹ́ ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Idẹ A' Design Award yìí ń kó àwọn ọ̀nà tó dára jùlọ nínú iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ jọ, ó sì tayọ nítorí àfiyèsí rẹ̀ sí àwọn àlàyé kékeré. Hilltop Homestead Iṣẹ́ Àkọ́kọ́: Ilé Ìdílé Kanṣoṣo ń tẹ́ àwọn ohun tí a nílò lọ́rùn lọ́nà àgbàyanu, ó ń fọwọ́ kan àwọn ìfẹ́ inú, ó ń gbà ọkàn ó sì ń fa ìfẹ́ láti mọ̀ mọ́ra.

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

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