In Warsaw’s Wola district, near Muranów, a pair of architects from Awo Studio – Dariusz Dziwak and Weronika Majchrowicz – have carried out a comprehensive transformation of their own 45-square-metre flat. The result of their work is a cohesively designed space that combines the functions of a home, a studio and a place to entertain guests.
The flat is located in a 1960s block of flats and required a complete refurbishment. The existing layout was confusing and cramped – the small space housed an entrance hall, a living room, a separate kitchen, two bedrooms, a corridor and a small bathroom. An additional constraint was the H-frame construction, with exposed beams and columns, which imposed specific limitations on the designers.
The owners wanted to combine spaciousness with functionality. The flat was to serve as a comfortable home environment whilst also functioning as a home office. The priority was to make maximum use of the space, create plenty of storage and provide a way to display personal collections – postcards from travels and vinyl records. All this within an area of 45 square metres.
The design concept
The architects deliberately drew on the context of the location. The socialist realist architecture of Muranów and the 1960s block of flats became the reference point for the interior’s aesthetic. The inspiration was the mid-century modern style, the Polish equivalent of which dates back to the times of the People’s Republic of Poland – the era in which the building was constructed. It was this style that set the direction for the design.
New functional layout
To maximise the living space, the wall between the living room, kitchen and hallway was knocked down. The entrance area was separated by a display cabinet made of ornamental glass, and the kitchen by an island, the front of which, facing the living room, was designed as a distinctive arrangement of shelves serving as a wine rack. The passage from the living room to the hallway was widened to the full width of the room. Two pairs of concealed doors, painted to match the walls, were installed, which helped to organise the space. The entrance from the study to the hallway was designed as a glass display cabinet, thereby bringing light into what had previously been a dark part of the flat.
One of the rooms was converted into a study with two workstations, a large desk and a bookcase. A sofa bed placed opposite gave the room a dual function – as a workspace and a guest room. The bedroom, originally narrow and long, was visually enhanced by introducing low-level built-in units behind the bed, serving as bedside tables and storage. Opposite, a deep built-in wardrobe was planned, which improved the proportions and increased storage capacity.
In the bathroom, the original functional layout was retained, with built-in units kept to a minimum to maximise space within the compact area.
Materials and colour scheme
The interior is dominated by warm colours and natural materials. A contrast is provided by the cool, centrally located corridor, which features an eggshell-textured paint with a satin finish from Benjamin Moore. The combination of a dark shade of blue with warm lighting creates a striking effect. The off-white walls and ceilings provide a backdrop for built-in units made of dark, warm wood with a distinctive grain. The furniture fronts are made of blockboard stained with a mixture of two colours of oil-wax – an original experiment by the designers.
The kitchen worktops and window sills are made of terrazzo prepared by BRUTO LASTRYKO. The composition of the binder and aggregate was selected individually, and the material itself echoes the terrazzo found in the building’s stairwells and loggias. The interior is complemented by fittings from OMNIRES and terracotta-coloured display cabinets made by FERWOR. Dark built-in units, terrazzo, ceramic details and wicker lampshades evoke the design and craftsmanship of the Polish People’s Republic.
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About the studio:
Awo Studio was founded in 2018. At its core are designers who channel their passion for architecture, design and art into a mission to create beautiful, practical and durable spaces, tailored to the individual needs of users. They specialise in architectural design, interior design and garden design. Their speciality is residential buildings – both single-family and multi-family homes. They are well-versed in conceptual design, obtaining planning permission and approvals, and preparing comprehensive construction drawings. They are keen to visit the construction sites of their projects, providing support to contractors throughout the works. They design projects across the country – they are not afraid of the challenges posed by local conditions.
design: Dariusz Dziwak and Weronika Majchrowicz from awo studio
photos: Aleksander Balcerek, Olga Michaluk
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