this four-story windmill gets a modern makeover and a new level by o4 architekci & michał kucharski
sited in lublin, poland, amid rural lands, a disused windmill has been converted into a modern and intimate getaway home. architect michał kucharski joined forces with o4 architekci’s mateusz piwowarski to complete the project, focusing on preserving the structure’s rustic details while adding a contemporary touch. the duo worked around the windmill’s limiting vertical layout, successfully modernizing its original four-story interior and adding a fifth level — a basement — that extends the living room on the first floor.
all images © rafał chojnacki
michał kucharski and mateusz piwowarski (see more here) incorporated a reading room, kitchen, dining room, and terrace on the first level while placing the bedroom and bathrooms on the two upper floors. the fourth level, originally a mezzanine, now functions as a workspace with a picturesque sight of the polish landscape captured through a set of large windows. moving to the basement, the architects fitted it with a technical room, garage, guest lounge, and service area. owners and visitors can directly access the property garden from that new lower-ground level. 
revamping the windmill structure using reinforced concrete, wood, and glass
materials wise, the team resorted to reinforced concrete, wood, and glass to meet the new demands of the renovated windmill house. the reinforced concrete was used to build new pillars and slabs, while reclaimed wood and carbonized planks were clad onto the outer walls — optimizing durability and visual harmony with the surroundings. complementing that wooden feel are vertical and horizontal glazed openings that respond to different spatial features. the vertical windows emphasize the facade’s narrow cladding pattern, and the horizontal ones visually link the first floor and basement to the garden. as a final touch, the dismantled mill wheel and trestle have been restored onto the building to preserve the structure’s rustic flair.
