The owners’ return to downtown Katowice became the impetus for creating an interior that consciously draws on the urban context. Architects from BaH studio designed a space that is orderly, precise and open to what lies beyond the window: brick buildings and changing light.
The most important element of the flat is the panorama of old buildings visible through large windows. The architects treated it as a constant point of reference, which is why the interior composition was planned so as not to dominate this image. The colour scheme is subdued and the layout of the space is clear, allowing the view to be treated as an integral part of the flat. The brickwork outside the window has become an element decorating the interior.
Openings and viewing axes lead the user from the entrance to the living area and bedroom. Vertical wall divisions organise the space and visually raise the rooms, which is particularly important in the dense development of the city centre.
Oak fixtures serve as the architectural backbone here. They are warm in appearance, but without decorative excess. They integrate storage, hide technical elements, while remaining a neutral backdrop for everyday life. Their practicality is worth noting. The cabinet system makes it easy to keep the space clean.
Long live art!
The owners are art collectors, so the design assumed its presence in the space from the very beginning. Paintings and sculptures have been arranged in such a way that they function in everyday use, rather than as elements separated from the lives of the residents.
In the living area, the works introduce colour and energy, breaking up the calm surfaces of the walls. The sculptures add depth, and the carefully planned lighting emphasises the texture and structure of the works. As a result, the interior changes with the light – it looks different in daylight and different in the evening.
The greatest value of the design can be seen in the details. BaH studio designs elements individually, adapting them to the residents’ lifestyle. In this flat, many solutions were custom-made: from woodwork, through free-standing furniture, to built-in furniture.
The divisions of the fronts result from the logic of the function and proportions of the rooms. The connections are clean and the lines are consistent. This can be seen in the flushes, in the way the edges are finished and in how the light falls on the surfaces. Every element, from large built-in furniture to handles, has been designed to create a coherent whole.
White in the bathroom
The bathing area is based on light, mineral surfaces that work well with light. The soft curves refer to the modernist traditions of Katowice, and the transparent shower partition increases the feeling of spaciousness. Precision of workmanship is particularly important in this part of the flat. Intensive use requires attention to detail: the lines, the quality of installation and the concealment of technology in the architecture. A limited palette of materials organises the space and allows you to focus on function.
The BaH studio design does not cut itself off from its surroundings – on the contrary, it uses them as an integral element. Oak organises the space, art introduces intensity, and refined details give the whole a unique character.
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About the studio:
BaH studio is based in Katowice and draws on experience gained in various studios in Poland and around the world, seeking new and unusual solutions to architectural problems. Through their experience, they strive to be not only designers, but also a kind of medium balancing between the worlds of culture, art, architecture and nature. They do not limit themselves to typical solutions and seek the hidden value of every object they work on. As they say, this often leads them to new and innovative ideas that positively surprise their clients.
team: Mateusz Białek, Marcin Harnasz, Kacper Groń, Aleksandra Kapuścik, Katarzyna Marcol, Łukasz Marjański
photos: Dekorialove AnnaLaskowska
Read also: Flat | Interiors | Katowice | Detail | Eclecticism | whiteMAD on Instagram
