Willa Jūratė
Architecture studio INTERURBAN has completed Willa Jūratė, a residential building in the seaside resort town of Jurata on Poland’s Hel Peninsula that reinterprets the tradition of modernist Baltic seaside villas.
Located within a pine forest typical of the region, the building was designed to respond to the natural landscape and the architectural character of Jurata, a town shaped by early twentieth-century holiday villas. The architects aimed to reduce the visual scale of the project and integrate it with the surrounding environment.
Instead of a single monolithic volume, the building is articulated into a series of smaller segments that reflect the rhythm and proportions of neighbouring villas. This approach allows the structure to sit more comfortably within the forest setting while maintaining a contemporary architectural expression.
Large terraces and expansive glazing open the apartments towards the surrounding greenery, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the interiors while strengthening the visual relationship between the building and the pine forest landscape. The design emphasises a close connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, reflecting the experience of living within a coastal environment.
The building contains a collection of apartments organised around a compact circulation core. Each unit was designed to maximise privacy while offering generous views and access to outdoor terraces.
Materiality also plays an important role in the project. The façade combines light plaster surfaces with natural materials that reference the palette traditionally associated with Baltic coastal architecture. Subtle textures and restrained detailing give the building a calm architectural character while ensuring durability in the demanding seaside climate.
Existing trees on the site were preserved wherever possible, allowing the building to appear embedded within the forest rather than imposed upon it.
