In Mokotow, right next to the Lazienki Park, there is a flat that escapes simple categories. It’s a space where northern tranquillity meets southern temperament, and light becomes ornamentation. The owners – a Polish-Basque couple – were looking for a place that would allow them to pause between journeys, immerse themselves in the greenery while remaining close to the urban rhythm. They came across a 51-square-metre flat in the old part of Mokotow, which has been given a new identity thanks to bold design decisions.
The interior design was created by Matuszewski Studio. The architect proposed partially demolishing the walls, which opened up the interior to natural light. As a result, the premises are bright at all times of the day: the morning sun spills softly over the veneered kitchen, the midday sun is reflected in the mirror between the window and the built-in cabinetry, and the evening sun dances on the chequered fronts in the bathroom.
On a small area, it has been possible to create several zones that overlap: a kitchen with a dining area, a living room with a seating area, and a bedroom combined with a workspace. There are no rigid divisions, and the boundaries between functions are soft and intuitive. The interior breathes while remaining functional, which is not at all obvious in flats of this size.
The aesthetic of the place is a conscious mix of modernist vintage, unique accessories and natural materials. The furniture includes real design gems: a Danish Georg Thams armchair from the 1960s, Italian lamps from the 1990s, a Swedish table from the 1970s and a Swiss USM chest of drawers – a classic that brings elegant order to the interior. The owners emphasise that instead of empty minimalism, they prefer spaces where “something happens”, with books, vinyls, art and objects that have a soul. This is an example of an eclectic space!
Personal items therefore appear alongside design icons: a poster by Nick Cave, paintings by friends, a work by Kamil Lach, a Basque sculpture by Iñigo Arrega or a watercolour depicting the street where the couple once lived in Spain. It is these that build the narrative of a life between two worlds, intertwined in one coherent rhythm.
Although the interior is refined, it does not try to intimidate anyone. It’s warm, lived-in, full of textures, light and music coming from the turntable. Retro details – such as ceramic switches – harmonise with modern touches, while the kitchen with its lacquered veneer and glossy mirror opens up the space without introducing coolness or excess form. This is a flat where you can hole up with a tea and a book, appreciating the cooler climate of Warsaw, so different from the beloved Basque Country, yet equally necessary.
The project was created in dialogue with the owners. As Krzysztof Matuszewski, founder of Matuszewski Studio, emphasises, their role was to ‘frame what was already there in the clients and their objects’, to create a base for a flat that would mature together with the inhabitants. And indeed – the space lives like them: sometimes it smells of Mokotow autumn and coffee, sometimes of Basque wine and fresh bread from the nearby bakery. It is filled with the sounds of conversations, meetings and shared dinners, and every object becomes a pretext for a story.
This flat is a bridge – not metaphorical, but very real – between Warsaw and the Basque Country. It brings together two temperaments, two aesthetics and one sensibility. It is proof that even a small space can become a place full of light, history and life. Beautiful!
design: Matuszewski Studio
photos: Resource Studio
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