The postmodern office block at 8 Żurawia Street in Warsaw, which has been occupied by Radio ZET for many years, is to make way for flats with green terraces. The design by the Dutch architectural practice MVSA requires the demolition of a significant portion of the existing structure. Demolition is due to begin in autumn 2026, with the first residents moving in in 2029.
Żurawia 8: an office block hidden behind the frontage
The building, known as Bliski Centrum, was constructed between 1998 and 2000 to a design by Maciej Wutzen, Adam Dolot and Wojciech Wysocki of the ARHEAD architectural practice. The developer was Berken SA. The six-storey building is tucked away at the back of the block between Krucza and Bracka Streets, behind the street-facing facades. Around 25 years ago, Radio ZET moved in here and remained at this address until 2019. The office block has a very distinctive layout: two wings surround an internal courtyard. This layout is to be retained.
Turquoise glass and pastel-coloured walls
The architecture of Bliskie Centrum is reminiscent of the aesthetic of Warsaw’s late 20th-century developments. Light-coloured walls are set against panes of reflective glass in a turquoise-green hue. The rounded corners of the glazing are crowned by projecting cornices that follow the curvature of the façades. The projecting sections are supported by slender columns. The whole composition is complemented by metal balustrades and glazed entrances. In their design, the ARHEAD studio has combined postmodernism with a style closer to traditional architecture. This nod to the classics did not come out of nowhere.
8 Żurawia is a historic address
According to the developer, at the beginning of the 20th century, a tenement block with outbuildings and a courtyard stood at 8 Żurawia Street. It disappeared towards the end of the Second World War, like most of the surrounding buildings. The new development is therefore intended to restore this address to residential use. In May 2024, it was announced that the property had been acquired by MS Centrum, a company belonging to the MS Investments group, led by Michał Szramowski. Roman Reiff, CEO of RR Enterprises, is a co-investor in the project. The design was prepared by the renowned Dutch architectural practice MVSA, in collaboration with the Warsaw-based firm APMD. For the architects, this will mark their debut on the Polish market.
Green terraces instead of offices
The apartment block will comprise 69 flats ranging in size from 40 to 280 square metres, each with a balcony or terrace. The wings mentioned earlier will continue to surround the courtyard, but the distance between them will be increased. On this side, there will be curved balconies and gardens with year-round vegetation. A specialist company will be responsible for maintaining the gardens, with access that does not require passing through the flats. The flats will feature full-height glazing and smart home systems. The top floor will feature penthouses with views over the centre of Warsaw.
Completion of the development in 2029
The development already has a legally binding planning permission. Demolition work, carried out with material sorting and recovery, is set to begin this autumn. The developer has announced that a significant portion of the existing buildings will be replaced, but has not specified the exact extent to which the original structure will be retained. The eight residential floors will be complemented by a reception area, a fitness club, a communal leisure and work area, and two commercial premises. Meanwhile, the two-storey car park will accommodate 70 cars. The gate on Żurawia Street, the access road and the nearby pavements will also be refurbished. The first residents are expected to move in in 2029.
Developer: MS Investments
Co-developer: Roman Reiff, CEO of RR Enterprises
Architectural design: MVSA
Design collaboration: APMD
See also:Architecture in Poland|whiteMAD on Instagram|Office block|Warsaw | Postmodernism
