A conversation between Małgorzata Mierżyńska and Bogusław Barnaś in the series “New Luxury”.
English Translation of the Article Below
Famous Polish Architect: “People expect a house to gain value like a good painting”
Published: June 24, 2024, 8:00 PM
By: Małgorzata Mierzyńska
A few years ago, an investor came to me and said that if I designed a building that was surprising enough to go down in the history of architecture, he would place no financial limitations.
However, a serious problem soon emerged – says Bogusław Barnaś, the architect behind the house awarded ‘most beautiful in the world’ by the international Global Architecture & Design Awards 2021.
The following is an English translation of an interview with architect Bogusław Barnaś, originally published in the Polish edition of Forbes Women.
In this conversation with journalist Małgorzata Mierzyńska, Barnaś discusses the direction of modern architecture, the value of integrating design with nature, and what his clients truly seek when commissioning luxury homes.
“I’m glad they choose me”
Today, it’s not about how much we spent on a house, but how we increased its property value through good architecture – says Bogusław Barnaś, the architect behind the house recognized as the most beautiful in the world by the international Global Architecture & Design Awards 2021.
Interview by: Małgorzata Mierzyńska
Forbes Women: In which direction is contemporary architecture heading?
Bogusław Barnaś: I feel that we are gradually moving away from modernism. In Poland, this process is still ongoing, but in the West you can already see a strong return to nature and harmony. Modernism turned its back on nature, reduced a house to mere function, and eliminated what is natural and beautiful. Its aesthetics come from industrial and technical inspirations. But a home is supposed to serve people – to provide not only shelter but also emotional comfort.
You can’t build harmony from materials that are not in harmony. Architecture that integrates with nature is a response to today’s chaos. People are looking for peace, balance, authenticity, sustainability, and energy efficiency. They want to live in a place that’s timeless, that ages well and beautifully, not in a house that looks like a random box just plopped onto a plot.
FW: Your clients are often wealthy people choosing luxury homes. Do they go along with this thinking?
Barnaś: One client from the United States once told me: “I could buy a similar house, but I want something unique, something that reflects me. I want to leave my mark.”
He said that if I could design something so iconic that it would be featured in architecture history, he wouldn’t limit me financially. He didn’t care if the house was in the center of a forest or on a mountain slope. What mattered was that it would gain value over time – like a painting by a great artist, whose value only increases.
BOGUSŁAW BARNAŚ
Graduate of Cracow University of Technology and Fachhochschule Münster. Founder of BXB Studio in 2009.
Previously worked in London with Norman Foster’s team. Ranked among the world’s top architects by the British magazine Wallpaper.
Author of the most awarded Polish house globally – Polish Highlander House, recognized by juries of the Global Design Award, German Design Award, and European Property Award as the most beautiful house in the world.
Designed a townhouse under Wawel Hill in Kraków, selected by Italian architectural magazine The Plan as the best hotel in the world.
“I’m glad they choose me”
Microtenement
Project awarded SARP Award of the Year 2023
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We also have clients who ask us to design a simple house made of concrete and metal. A minimalist shape, raw materials, and a large window – that’s what will impress their guests and neighbors. And yet, they expect this to “gain value like a good painting.” But a raw block will not age well. Good architecture matures with time. I believe a luxury project is one that builds added value for the property. It creates a work of intellectual and artistic creativity. In this context, good architecture is not a cost, it’s an investment in making dreams real.
Forbes Women: Which of these dreams impressed you most?
A few years ago, a client came to me and said that if I designed a building so surprising it would be remembered in the history of architecture, he would place no financial limits. But he also wanted the building to gain value, like a work of art, and to integrate with nature, while still referencing traditional architecture. Perfect, I thought. Only this wasn’t just about style – his unusual plan involved a traditional layout deeply rooted in regional tradition. A perfect example of combining the traditional with the contemporary – a modern-day manor house.
Forbes Women: And how do you come up with ideas?
I always draw inspiration from local nature, history, and tradition. In one case, for example, we decided to design a house on a slope, using stone from that very site. We were inspired by the historic Polish Highlander House, using wooden joinery techniques from the Southern Beskids. That’s why the house fits naturally into its surroundings. Already during construction, passersby stopped and asked whether we were renovating an old building. And we had just started building! That’s when I knew we were headed in the right direction.
There’s another project I’m proud of – a townhouse under Wawel Castle in Kraków. Despite many unique solutions (like the House from a Pit), this one wasn’t focused on dramatic views or maximizing square footage. The point was to achieve the most beautiful proportions and ambiance. The house is only 135 m² and just 15 meters wide. But it reached the finals of the World Architecture Festival in Singapore. It’s probably the most complex plan we’ve ever done, despite its small size. Everything fits within a traditional townhouse footprint, yet it feels luxurious.
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Polish Highlander House
A multi-award-winning project. Custom-designed: a unique home rooted in the landscape
Scorpio House
A luxury bunker whose purpose goes beyond physical threat
Forbes Women: So if I understand correctly, luxury in architecture is not size or extravagance, but timelessness?
Exactly. That’s how I see it. For example, the Polish Highlander House, although it looks rooted in tradition, is a modern luxury home. Why? Because of its scale, proportions, detailing, materials, and integration with the terrain and local culture. Even though it looks small from the front, it opens up to panoramic views of the mountains from the back. People are beginning to recognize this quality. We’re seeing more clients who want more than just a big house with expensive finishes. They want good design that fits the landscape and has lasting value.
Forbes Women: But do Polish clients associate this with Polish aesthetics, or do they want something foreign-looking?
Many clients have traveled the world and seen exotic homes in distant lands. They often dream of building a home just like one they saw on vacation – and sometimes that dream includes a jungle villa! But fortunately, more and more of them are realizing that what really matters is building something personal and authentic, not copying what works in Bali or Singapore. Even if a home is concrete and minimalist, it must relate to the place and the context.
One client told us, “I want to live in a beautiful ruin” – and he meant it in the best way possible! He was dreaming of a house that would look aged and dignified over time. We created a unique design, deeply embedded in local context.
Forbes Women: Are you also designing bunkers now?
We came up with an entirely new typology of residential shelter. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, some clients asked us for homes that would protect them from unknown threats.
That led to the concept of Scorpio House, a home that appears to be a traditional wooden cottage, but actually includes reinforced underground levels and secure systems for off-grid living. It has full autonomy: energy, ventilation, food, and water. And it doesn’t look like a military bunker. That’s the future of residential architecture – resilience, sustainability, and subtle protection. Scorpio House is beautiful and highly specialized at the same time.
Forbes Women: Have you ever had a client come to you with an unrealistic idea that you couldn’t talk them out of?
Absolutely. I remember one investor who wanted to build a house in Zakopane. The living room was to be on the ground floor, with the bedroom upstairs. I visited the site and realized that placing the living room on the lower level would block the view of the mountains due to a neighboring building. I proposed flipping the layout—putting the bedroom downstairs and opening up the upper floor with panoramic glazing. That adjustment allowed the daily enjoyment of the stunning Giewont view. That’s how the “House with a View of Giewont” was born.
Forbes Women: What projects are you working on now?
One of our recent concepts is an audio-visual house. It was a bold and emotional idea from multimillionaire investors with refined taste and musical sensitivity. The concept includes panoramic views with acoustic layers—an architectural soundscape. We designed the elevations to filter sound and create a soft barrier from nature. The terrace immerses you in sound and scenery while maintaining peace and privacy indoors.
This project is located on a vast forest property and also includes luxury apartments in central Warsaw. These clients want Polish taste in a modern form—architecture that reflects cultural and local identity, not imitation.
Forbes Women: Do clients want unique artistic interiors as well?
Yes, and we love creating them. We recently designed spaces inspired by Polish film, music, and literature, including colors from Krzysztof Kieślowski’s films—white, red, and blue. Each room reflects a different cultural narrative, reinforced through curated art and mood boards. This approach gives each space a unique, emotionally rich character.
Forbes Women: Are luxury homes always extremely expensive?
Not necessarily. While some projects reach tens of millions, we always aim for cost-effective excellence. For example, we created a home in Krakow made of stone for only 300,000 PLN. Most of our projects fall within a range of 50,000–100,000 PLN in design cost. A good design can often be more valuable than the building itself—it defines how the home lives, breathes, and endures.
Forbes Women: And the most expensive home you’ve worked on?
That would be a project whose concept alone took three months and cost several million PLN in total—design, execution, and furnishings included. But even then, it was worth it. People today understand that great design is a lasting investment.
Forbes Women: With so many awards, are you now the most sought-after architect in Poland?
Clients tell me that, yes. I’m grateful they choose me—even when I’m not the cheapest option.
Interview by: Małgorzata Mierzyńska
