Shortly after the occupancy permit was granted, the Żelazna 54 development in Warsaw’s Wola district was completed. The new residential building, designed by the SAAW architectural practice, has been built in the immediate vicinity of the Norblin Factory and the Warsaw Breweries. This is an area that has undergone a spectacular transformation in recent years and is now an extremely popular and fashionable neighbourhood. The Żelazna 54 project stands out above all for its bold colour scheme and deliberate nod to the tradition of Warsaw’s tenement houses.
Żelazna 54: a contemporary tenement
Żelazna 54 was built on a plot between Grzybowska and Pereca Streets. Matexi Polska was responsible for the development, the design was prepared by the Warsaw-based architectural practice SAAW, and CFE Polska acted as the main contractor. Work began in spring 2024 and was completed in April 2026. A month later, the building was granted a certificate of occupancy. From the very outset, the architects sought an alternative to yet another dull apartment block with glass façades. Instead of this typical formula, they proposed a contemporary interpretation of a city-centre tenement block with an interesting colour scheme. Of considerable importance here is the reconstruction of the compact frontage along Żelazna Street, which had lost its former urban rhythm.
141 flats and a space open to the city
The building consists of two parts: the taller section has nine storeys above ground, whilst the lower section, comprising five storeys, was designed to match the height of the neighbouring pre-war tenement block. Two levels of underground car park have been built. The development comprises 141 flats ranging in size from 28 to over 100 square metres, with some units even reaching 180 square metres. Ceiling heights range from 2.8 to 3 metres, which results in better natural light and a more spacious feel to the flats. On the ground floor, there are four retail units with large shop windows facing the street. This is a nod to the historic buildings of Śródmieście, where shops and services accessible directly from the pavement were a part of everyday life for Warsaw’s residents.
A coral-coloured façade instead of grey
The standout feature of the entire development is, of course, its façade. These days, the overwhelming majority of new buildings use white and grey, but Żelazna 54 has opted for warm shades of coral. The architects drew inspiration from Wola’s incredibly rich industrial history and its brick buildings. It is these very structures that have defined the appearance of this part of Warsaw over the years. The façade of the new development on Żelazna Street is constructed from prefabricated elements made of coloured architectural concrete. Numerous recesses, breaks in the façade and loggias add depth to the façades, whilst openwork balustrades, shutters and integrated greenery are the icing on the cake of this composition. The building features contrasting, cream-coloured window and door frames. Also worthy of note is the recessed entrance with revolving doors, a feature rarely seen in residential construction, reminiscent of the elegant townhouses and hotels of the first half of the 20th century.
54 Żelazna Street: a tribute to old Warsaw
In the central part of the plot, an intimate garden has been created, accessible exclusively to residents. This is complemented by a recreational roof terrace offering views of the area around Rondo Daszyńskiego and Warsaw’s new cluster of skyscrapers. Equally much attention has been paid to the communal areas. Materials associated with Warsaw’s historic tenement houses have been incorporated here, including terrazzo combined with architectural concrete, metal details and large glazed areas. Given the history of Żelazna Street, once surrounded by dense tenement housing, workshops and industrial premises, the development can be seen as a nod to this rich past.
Design: SAAW
Source: SAAW, projektinwestor.pl, architektura.muratorplus.pl
See also:Tenement block|Warsaw|Architecture in Poland|Interesting facts|whiteMAD on Instagram
