In the heart of Tychy, in one of the typical blocks of flats, hides a unique space – an artistic oasis that harmoniously combines elements of modernism with modern design. The 100-square-metre flat has been designed with extraordinary attention to detail. The white wall base and light grey resin floor provide the perfect backdrop for iconic vintage furniture from the modernism period and artworks inspired by urban life and social media. This subtle narrative, the play of colour forms and textures perfectly relates to the history and distinctive architecture of this charming city.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
All the rooms in the flat have been separated by smaller and larger white blocks with rounded corners, arranged on a sheet of light grey resin flooring. This treatment gives the interior the impression of a uniform monolith, harmoniously combining form and function in the living space. The introduction of strong non-obvious forms, textures and colours in the furniture, accessories and paint art dynamises the subdued base of the space. It adds energy and character to the interior, creating an interesting contrast and enlivening the atmosphere of the home.
PRIVATE AREA – BEDROOM HOME OFFICE LAUNDRY ROOM
After some necessary demolition, the private zone of the flat was integrated into one coherent whole. In designing this space, a harmonious combination of the bedroom zone, the workspace and the utility room, which function as pass-through rooms, was created. A smooth transition from the bedroom leads through the remote working area, arranged with a bookcase from the String Furniture range, to the utility area, where the dressing table is located. The glass dressing table subtly displays the original Tulip chair from the 1960s, designed by Eero Saarinen.
The entire composition is complemented by a painting by Michal Żytniak together with a lamp by the Polish brand Lexavala with a restrained linear form. On the wall to the right, finished at the ceiling with foxholes, the white goods from the bathroom have been relocated, creating a practical utility cupboard with a minimalist subtle form. This combination of zones in the flat creates a harmonious whole, with nooks and crannies forming a coherent spatial narrative. The demolition of the walls and the exposure of the exterior wall resulted in the creation of a panoramic window impression, which provides the interior with a generous dose of natural light.
COMMUNICATION
The introduction of intense colours in the accessories and in the painting enlivens the subdued base of the space, creating an interesting contrast. Also, the exposed ceiling beams, covered with a layer of red grafting primer from the construction period, contrast with the smooth wall surfaces and floor. The longest exposed ceiling beam leads the occupants through a long corridor, where all storage has been concealed behind a long built-in mirror finish. Dynamism in the entrance area is added by a decorative mirror in luscious green by the OBIEKTY store brand and the finishing of the entrance wall along with the door with a distinctive veneer by Atpol with a lush abstract pattern designed by the well-known Italian architect Ettore Sottsassa.
KUCHNIA
Similarly, the kitchen space was separated using two curved blocks: one of them conceals the built-in fridge and appliances, while the other contains a hidden bar. The white base created the ideal background for displaying a row of kitchen cabinets of unusual form. The base cabinets, in a muted taupe colour, are placed on a narrow plinth finished in American walnut, which also appears on the cornice of the bedroom furniture. The kitchen apron, inspired by Venetian terrazzo, is also a distinctive graphic motif that appears repeatedly in the flat. The whole is finished with an arch of modular mirrors that reflect the light from the opposite window, adding brightness and optically enlarging the kitchen space. A design accent is provided by a magnificent single-leg swivel chair by designer Herbert Ohl, created in 1982 for Wilkhahn.
SALON
In the living room, which blends harmoniously with the dining room, a number of iconic pieces of furniture have been gathered, representing gems from the previous century. The glass table from the 1970s, with its beautiful sculptural form, designed by Gastone Rinaldi, blends perfectly with the Thonet S33 chairs, which are the work of Mark Stam, dating from the same period. The beautiful cognac leather of the chairs contrasts perfectly with the blue fronts of the USM Haller bookcase, where the occupants display their vinyl collection. The colour dialogue of the elements is united by another work by Żytniak entitled ‘Girls from Warsaw’.
In the lounge area, the main accent has been placed on the colour green, which refers to the green Arabescato marble-inspired plinths surrounding the walls of all the rooms. The lounge area is furnished with comfortable Togo sofas and a table by Thonet, model S3001, designed by Christoph Zschocke in 1990, complemented by the Alky armchair, created by Giancarlo Piretti for Anonim Castelli, with its thick weave and luscious green colour. The dialogue between ‘old’ and ‘new’, which underpins the entire arrangement, is completed by the BULLERREMSA rug by IKEA, which gained new life in the Nytillverkad collection and first appeared in the 1958 catalogue.
This artistic oasis is complemented by accessories and textiles from Polish brands and manufactures. Among the accessories are unique textiles by Rest Studio, such as the hand-woven Blur blankets made from mohair and alpaca fibre, decorative sculptural hand-forged candlesticks by Marcin Skalski of Kuźnia Skały studio, ceramics by Malwina Konopacka and lamps by Lexavala. The original pieces of iconic furniture were purchased from Nostalgia, a furniture commission specialising in the sale of designer furniture, run by Aleksandra Schmidt, a furniture collector.
BATHROOM
The bathroom space continues the subtle dialogue of textures that also appear in the other rooms. A raw maroon-coloured pull-up bar clearly separates the toilet and shower areas, clearly demarcating the space. Storage in the bathroom was solved with a roomy full-width enclosure, finished with a mirror. This creates an optical effect of order and enlarges the space. A strip of glass blocks is placed above the enclosure to provide natural daylight, adding a fresh and pleasant atmosphere to the room.
For the bathroom, it was decided to use the work of English artist Amy Victoria Marsh. Amy is a highly creative illustrator based in Manchester, known for her drawings, ceramics and wood and textile products. In the shower area, in collaboration with Truffle Mosaics – a Polish brand specialising in personalised glass mosaics – it was possible to transfer one of Amy’s works – Running Naked Lady – into a unique and surprising wall mosaic.
The Tyska artistic oasis is a perfect example of combining modernity with vintage elements, creating a space full of contrast and style. The designers used both functionality and aesthetics to create a harmonious and coherent whole that reflects the spirit of modernism and artistic expression. It is a place where every detail matters and the thoughtful arrangements bring a unique character to the interior, creating a space that will satisfy the tastes of even the most demanding design enthusiasts.
Design: Gosia Kotyczka OBIEKTY STUDIO
Location: Tychy
Area: 100 sqm
Completion: 2024
Read also: Achitektura w Polsce | Apartment | Wnętrza | Mieszkanie | Tychy | Vintage | whiteMAD on Instagram
Theme: Artistic oasis in Tychy. A space full of contrast and style
