In the Krakow flat designed by PIM Concept, colours, textures and patterns create a story about the owners. It is a space that responds to their rhythm of the day, their seasonal wanderings between the city and the mountains and their need to immerse themselves in a variety of stimuli. This two-storey flat is 68sq m in size, and right from the threshold it gives the feeling that each element has its own temperament and establishes a dialogue with the subsequent interior fragments.
A flat in a Krakow townhouse and the story of the inhabitants
The owners come here for the winter months. In the warm seasons, they carry out their activities in the Bieszczady Mountains, but when peace falls over the mountains, they choose Krakow. They find the city a source of energy through its cinemas, theatres, galleries and restaurants. They wanted their flat to become an extension of this dynamic and a place that allows them to pause while still carrying the urban pulse.
Architects Dorota Kwiecień and Gabriela Gajek-Zakolska recall that it was a project built from scratch and without initial inspiration. All assumptions were made on the fly based on conversations with investors. The work resembled the compilation of stories about their habits and emotions. For this reason, the interior was not built according to trends or a single aesthetic direction. The individuality of the residents was paramount.
Two-storey flat as a meeting space
The living area on the ground floor is the centre of the flat. The colours and materials were combined in a bold way, creating a distinctive character for this area. The blue kitchen fronts are broken up with red travertine handles. A checkered carpet appears on the floor and a solid wood table with green chairs stands next to it. The effect is a fusion of intensity with a slight casualness. Instead of a typical sofa, an alcove under the stairs was created, lined with a soft lounger in a red wine shade. Cushions in geometric patterns add energy to this space. It is a corner for morning coffee, reading or planning the next season in the mountains.
The small bathroom on the ground floor is surprisingly decorative. A golden console supports the classic washbasin, while wallpaper in amber and brown tones and a mosaic tile layout create an atmosphere conducive to everyday rituals.
A flat floor full of tranquillity
The hosts’ bedroom is a real sanctuary of calm. The interior combines deep navy blue with brick red. A glazed wall with ornamental glass adds light transmission and visually expands the room. The daughter’s room is kept in a lighter colour scheme. Blue walls and brick accents refer to the wallpaper with floral patterns on a dark blue background. The upstairs bathroom is dominated by green. Tiles with matt and glossy surfaces create a rhythmic composition. Behind the tinted arched glass, there is a shower with a simple form, but with a strong expression.
Two-storey flat and dialogue with detail
What draws attention to the project is the precise approach to detail. There is no single dominant accent in the arrangement, and the individual elements resonate with each other despite their differences. Colour, texture, stucco and light lead a common narrative. The architects emphasise that they have succeeded here in proving the harmony created by contrasts.
PIM Concept project in a listed building
The flat was created in a historic tenement in the very centre of Krakow. The building’s surroundings influence the perception of the interior. The railings on the staircase, the stained-glass windows preserved by the conservation officer and the colourfully painted ceilings create a context for the inhabitants’ everyday life. In designing this space, the architects respectfully referred to the character of the building and introduced elements of contemporary aesthetics, creating an interior strongly connected to the history of the place.
About the studio
PIM Concept is created by Dorota Kwiecień and Gabriela Gajek-Zakolska, graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków. Designing is a natural form of creative work for them. They value aesthetics, proportion and precision of detail, and cooperation with clients is based on careful conversation. Each interior is created in response to the needs of the occupants and is given its own character. The architects specialise in the classics, but are equally at ease with projects with a different expression. They believe that space influences everyday life, so they refine each project with the comfort of the users in mind.
Project: PIM Concept
Location: Kraków
Area: 68 sqm.
Photography: Pietruszka Fotografia
Read also: Architecture | Apartment | Tenement house | Krakow | Interiors
