On the top floor of an intimate building in Kraków’s Zwierzyniec district is a flat whose interiors were designed by architects from the One Desk studio. The southern exposure makes the interior bathe in light, and through the windows a view of the vast Vistula valley opens up. From the north, the perspective is complemented by the castle in Przegorzaly, masterfully inscribed into the green slope of the Wolski Forest by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz; two completely different landscapes intertwine here with the architecture of the flat so that they become its inseparable element.
The investors, relocated from the Tricity, entrusted the One Desk studio with a rather frugal programme: a living area, a bathroom and one bedroom. The idea was clear – open space, maximum light and a sense of continuity. However, the complicated geometry of the multi-pitched roof made the project difficult to realise: the haunches in each room were at times an ally of the project, at other times they required creative “putting together” of the space. It was in working with this constraint that the maturity of the concept became apparent: by not masking the slants, the architects treated them as part of the interior narrative. The interior space itself is 76 sq m.
Bedroom the centre of relaxation
Where there were two rooms before the conversion, one spacious bedroom was created with a dressing room and a small work area. One wall was designed as a row of wardrobes in a light blue colour. The furniture fronts flow seamlessly into a small library and are joined by a horizontal cornice in the same shade, visually creating a single, calm block. A mirrored door conceals the entrance to the dressing room, while on the opposite side, a seat finished in wild bohemian veneer – signed by Ettore Sottsass – tidies up the faults created when the two rooms are joined. The bedroom opens onto the hall and the living area with a wide double door with fluted glass, which reinforces the sense of continuity and allows the integration of views of the Vistula and the Wolski Forest.
The illusion of space
The key to the feeling of spatial continuity lies in the flooring – a homogeneous, abstract carpet made of bright micro-cement. The smooth, matt surface connects the zones and attenuates the divisions created by the roof slants. In the lobby, a mirrored wall, which hides the door to the bathroom, optically enlarges the entrance and gives it a slightly surreal feel; this effect is meant to act like the first sentence in a book, drawing the reader further in. In addition, the feeling of space is heightened by the omnipresent white.
Carefully chosen accents
The developers wanted a muted, bright palette, so most walls and surfaces were treated sparingly. The low kitchen cabinets were subordinated to this logic – the stainless steel fronts and light stone worktop subtly resonate with the surroundings, reflecting the light and the reactions of the space. The monotony of the tonality is broken by a few distinctive elements: the most striking is the tall kitchen unit, a semifreestanding piece of furniture finished in chocolate-finish with a characteristic curved shorter side. Its form evokes the 1930s architecture of Gdynia, making a discreet reference to the owners’ longing for the coast. Similar soft transitions appear in the bedroom, where the built-in furniture acts as a link between zones.
Good morning!
The living area opens onto a large terrace, densely planted with potted plants, which blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior greenery. A red sofa builds a warm focal point, complemented by a custom-made chest of drawers and the elegant Counterbalance wall lamp from Luceplan, which illuminates the dining table.
In the bathroom, white is told through textures and shades: fine Vogue Ceramica tiles in the shower cubicle and on the countertop create a subtle ornament, while the technical storage area for the washing machine and dryer is enclosed by a red fabric – the same blood-coloured tone appears on sections of the walls and built-ins, and contrasts with the front of the under-counter cupboard made of reddish chevron.
A place for art
In a flat devoid of ornaments and excessive decoration, there is room for contemporary art. Above the bed hangs a painting by Karolina Wasiluk, opposite – a work by Michał Sroka, while the living room is decorated with a phenomenal painting by Aleksandra Toborowicz. These works fill the bright background with emotional accents, giving the interior a personal rhythm and completing the story begun by the architecture. Bravo!
design: One Desk
photos: Studio Resources
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