In a modernist tenement block dating from the late 1930s in the centre of Łódź, history meets contemporary design. Within 94 m², interior architect Joanna Fabjańska, owner of the LUVA architecture studio, has created a home for her family. It is an interior in which the building’s modernist architecture has not been treated as a constraint, but as a starting point for creating a highly personal space.
The inspirations are clear to see, but they do not dominate everyday life. Danish minimalism meets bold colours, classics of global design, Polish art and details that reference the tenement’s history. The whole is both orderly and full of surprises.
Preserving what was already there
The project began with the decision to preserve as many of the flat’s original features as possible. The door frames, parquet flooring and cast-iron radiators were restored. The distinctive semi-circular walls were also retained, becoming one of the most important recurring motifs throughout the interior.
New elements were introduced with great care. White wooden windows replaced the previous ones, whilst retaining the character of the building and adhering to conservation guidelines. As a result, the contemporary design does not compete with the tenement’s architecture, but allows it to shine through.
At the same time, the project is not an attempt to recreate the interior as it was several decades ago. Rather, it is a contemporary interpretation of modernism, in which the past forms part of a larger, family-centred narrative.
A kitchen like a scene from a film
One of the most significant functional changes was moving the kitchen into the living room. This allowed for the creation of an additional room, whilst also creating an interesting space between the kitchen and the living area.
The kitchen is separated from the living room by a light, white glazed partition with a semi-circular pane. Its form evokes associations with modernist architecture, but also with the characteristic scenes from Edward Hopper’s paintings. The glazing features windows that open on both sides, allowing the kitchen to be fully opened up to the living room when entertaining friends or cooking together.
Behind the glazing, colour comes into play. From the outside, the kitchen is accented with blue, whilst the interior features white mosaic worktops with burgundy grouting and veneered furniture fronts. Their distinctive oval shapes echo the design language present in the flat’s architecture.
Colour as an architectural element
The living room, combined with the dining area, serves not only as the apartment’s showpiece but, above all, as a space for everyday life. Here we find design classics, art and bold colour accents that break up the minimalist modernist base.
One of the most distinctive elements is the TOGO armchair by Ligne Roset, accompanied by a Tolomeo wall lamp by Artemide and a Tylko chest of drawers for DJ equipment. A khaki colour adorns the ceiling, whilst spotlights with brass fittings have been arranged irregularly, creating an almost graphic composition.
The interior is free of curtains. This choice reflects Joanna Fabjańska’s love of Danish minimalism, but it also serves a practical purpose – it allows the flat to open up as fully as possible to the surrounding garden.
The living room opens onto a balcony overgrown with vines. The plant dates back to the time when the tenement was built, making it one of the most extraordinary, living traces of the site’s history.
Cobalt, lilac and modernist ovals
In the dining room, a vivid cobalt-blue bookcase coated in resin catches the eye. Hanging above the table is a lilac lamp by the Polish brand Lexavala. Bold colours here are not merely an accessory, but one of the key tools for creating the atmosphere.
Forms play a similar role. Double-leaf, veneered sliding doors with oval glazing lead to the bedroom. Inside, a modernist bed is paired with a silver, theatrical curtain concealing the wardrobe. On the wall hangs a large painting by Wojciech Kołacz (Olecki), whose works also feature in the living room.
The door to the bedroom is framed by a black-and-white chequerboard pattern – a motif also repeated on the balcony. Next to it are khaki Kartell bedside tables and a wooden curtain rod cover, which helps maintain the visual order of the interior.
Details that tell a story
The hallway is another space where the building’s architecture has served as inspiration. The rounded, tiled structure in white, green and navy blue stripes echoes the existing curve of the wall, whilst concealing a walk-in wardrobe inside.
The hallway is lit by handcrafted Italian Murano glass lamps in the ‘Candy’ design. At the entrance, the original joinery has been preserved, complemented by distinctive Thonet-style coat hooks. It is precisely these elements that ensure the interior does not look like a new development styled to resemble modernism. The building’s history is genuinely present here.
A bathroom with a history
In the bathroom and toilet, the design consistently continues the same narrative. There are old tiles, a black-and-white chequerboard pattern, burgundy panelling in the English style, and period-style sanitary ware.
A particular highlight is the old ceramic washbasin found in the flat’s cellar. It most likely came from a former laundry room that was once located in the tenement’s attic. Rather than replacing it with a new one, the designer incorporated it into the contemporary design.
An artistic touch is provided by the shower, finished with a chequered mosaic custom-made by Szklane Mozaiki. In the second toilet, meanwhile, the entrance to a small laundry room – which also serves as a utility room – is concealed.
A small room like a Wes Anderson set
At the end of the corridor lies the daughter’s room – the most whimsical space in the entire flat. Blue and burgundy, stripes and prints by Polish artists, including Maciek Polak and Ksero-ksero, create an interior somewhat reminiscent of a film set.
There is a sense of nostalgia here, a playful use of form and colour, whilst the distinctive symmetry and colour combinations bring to mind the aesthetic of Wes Anderson’s films. The room retains its childlike character, however – it is not merely a stylised set, but a space created with its young occupant in mind.
A home that comes alive
This flat is not a showcase for a single style. Modernism, Danish minimalism, colour, art and vintage all come together here without the need to create a uniform, perfect image. On the contrary – it is precisely this diversity that makes the interior feel personal.
The burgundy grout, khaki ceiling, cobalt bookcase, silver curtain, Murano glass and an old washbasin found in the cellar are not random decorations. Each of these elements contributes to a larger narrative – about architecture, the memory of the place and the everyday lives of its inhabitants.
Most importantly, however, the flat was not designed solely to look good. It is part of a home where one cooks, listens to music, relaxes, spends time with loved ones and steps out onto a balcony overgrown with vines that bear witness to the tenement’s history. And that is precisely why the modernist spirit of this interior is not merely an aesthetic statement – it becomes a backdrop for life.
Design: LUVA Architecture
Photography: Przestrzenie Fotografia
See also: Flat | Architecture | Kitchen | Bathroom | Apartment | Modernism | Eclecticism
