MUS Architects' Periscope House Elevates Living Above Lake Żywiec Embankment

MUS Architects has completed 'The Periscope,' a residential project near Lake Żywiec, Poland, designed to overcome the site's obstructed lake views caused by an elevated earth embankment. The three-story house inverts the typical layout, placing living spaces on the top floor for panoramic vistas. The ground level houses an entrance, two-car garage, and spa; the first floor contains bedrooms and bathrooms. A freight lift in the garage transports goods to the kitchen. White aluminum cladding wraps the exterior, contrasting with full-height glazing on the lake-facing side. The design is inspired by a periscope's optical logic, using vertical arrangement to elevate sightlines. Photographs by Anna Porebska document the project.