I wrote a 608-page book on building a house — “Od marzenia do wprowadzenia”.
Published in Polish. The notes in this section begin where that book ends: in the world of private residences.
A panic room in a Polish home – when it makes sense and what to require
A panic room at home does not look like it does in films. What it is built for, which decisions come with the structure and what to require of the contractor.
These articles are educational. Every project requires its own analysis, construction design and supervision — no two residences are the same.
An indoor pool in a residence: why comfort is decided by the building services
An indoor pool means swimming all year if the hall's climate is designed with the architecture: moisture balance, dehumidification, dew point and heat recovery.
Land and siteBuilding on a slope and difficult terrain – what I see on the plot before I say it can be done
A slope does not rule out a residence – it changes the sums. I check the water, the slope's stability and the ground along the fall before any concept or price.
SecurityAn alarm system in a residence – why it should not depend on someone else's server
An alarm system without the cloud: what to require of the installation, why it must work without the internet and when in the build the decision is really made.
SecurityHome CCTV without the cloud – why footage from your house should not leave your property
Home CCTV without the cloud: where camera footage goes, what to require from a local system and why the decision is made with the electrics, before plastering.
EngineeringHome automation from the design stage – what to require and what to keep separate
Smart home in a residence: what the house should do by itself, which decisions come with the electrical design, who programs it and what stays separate.
SecurityA residence secured in layers – from the fence to the bedroom door
Home security in layers: what to require from the fence, the joinery, the bedroom wing and the people with keys – and when in the build each decision is made.
Process and timelineBuilding a residence in Poland as a foreign investor – what is different here
Who may buy land here, who signs the design, which roles the law names – and how you know what happens on site when you live on the other side of the world.
EngineeringA clinker brick facade on brackets – what the design of a residence has to settle before the first brick is laid
A clinker cavity wall in a residence: the cavity, movement joints, brackets, lintels over large windows and inspecting each layer before the next one hides it.
Pricing and contractHow to vet a general contractor for a residence – what to ask everyone, me included
A register extract says a company exists, not that it builds well. What to check on paper, what to ask about people, process and references – ask me too.
Land and siteHow much electricity does a residence need – connection capacity, grid headroom and a transformer station
A residence with a pool, sauna, heat pump and EV chargers needs several times the power of an ordinary house. What I check with the grid operator before you buy.
The owner's homeHandover of a residence and the first year in the house – what happens after the keys
Handover from a general contractor is not one day: what we check, what you get with the keys, how the house settles in year one and who keeps the calendar.
Process and timelineWhere to start building a residence – when you have the idea but no design
An idea for a house, but no design and perhaps no plot. Where I start: a conversation, the plot, a feasibility study, the studio, the permit – and what I ask.
Pool and wellnessSauna, hammam and a home spa: each room has a climate of its own
A home spa in a residence is several rooms with very different climates: dry sauna, steam-filled hammam, hot water. What to plan before the floor plans are set.
The owner's homeChoosing your home's finishes without overload: options narrowed for you, not left to your research
Instead of 'pick tiles from 400 catalogues' you get two or three coherent directions with real samples. I carry the process; the taste stays yours.
Process and timelineLiving alongside the build: how much of your attention a residence really takes
A residence with a general contractor doesn't need you on site daily. I show what reaches you unasked, which decisions are yours, and what you can't hand off.
Pool and wellnessA pool in a residence on a high water table — what must be calculated before the design is drawn
A high water table does not rule out a basement pool in a residence. What I calculate before the design: peak water level, uplift, moisture balance.
Pricing and contractHow I price a residence build — the lump sum, a price that does not change
I set the price of a residence before construction starts — it does not rise with my costs. The risk is mine; changes are priced openly before you decide.
Working with your architectI have a design and an architect — where the general contractor comes in
You have a design and an architect and need a builder. What I do with a finished design, when to bring me in, why changes go through the architect.
Land and siteI have a plot for a residence — what I check before the concept is drawn
Before an architect draws anything, the plot gets vetted: groundwater, soil, zoning, power, site access. What I check, in what order, and why.
Process and timelineWhy a residence takes about two years to build — and what happens in each quarter
Concrete cures, the house has to dry, and rushed finishing shows. What happens in each quarter of a residence build — and where the two years go.
EngineeringA car lift for an underground garage — five decisions to make before the design is drawn
A car lift in a private home is a lift and a structural element, not a catalogue item. Five decisions before the design: type, sizing, shaft, power, service.
Pricing and contractChanges during construction of a residence — what an honest process looks like when you change your mind
Changes on a residence build will happen — the question is how. I explain the honest process: a price before you decide, who pays for what, and when I say no.
The full version of this knowledge is becoming the book “Rezydencje”.
The first book in Poland on building a residence. Release 2027 · an exclusive product · outside general sale.