Krochmalna Street in Warsaw is a place where the past meets the present. One of the few streets in the former Wola, where the vestigial character of the historic buildings has been preserved, has become the stage for an investment that redefines its image. The Krochmalna 44 Residence is a building that arouses a lot of emotion even before it is completed.
Architecture that catches the eye
Rezydencja Krochmalna 44 is an investment by Vinci Immobilier Polska, designed by the Warsaw-based atelier7architektura gnich studio. The building is distinguished by its modern design, including a glazed façade that breaks in numerous places to create a dynamic form. The most controversial feature, however, is the black blind wall – a windowless corner section of the building that contrasts with the rest of the façade.
Why was such an element chosen? As the developer explains, the blank wall is supposed to be part of the future continuation of the frontage, which means that eventually another building should stand next to it. At present, however, in the empty space, the black plane is conspicuous and evokes mixed reactions.
I have mixed feelings about the apartment building at 44 Krochmalna St. Yes, it recreates the frontage, but only a fragment of it, and for years it will haunt with a blank wall. And the narrow canyon it creates with the neighbouring block is a curiosity.https://t.co/KUXMFTsVJB pic.twitter.com/FgQuUX2e6P
– Michal Wojtczuk (@MichaWojtcz) January 1, 2025
Historical context – pre-war tenements and the Za Żelazną Bramą estate
The new apartment building stands between Chaim Gerkowicz’s tenement house, built between 1911 and 1912, which survived the war, and a monumental block of flats from the communist period, which is part of the Za Żelazną Bramą estate. Such a location poses a design challenge – combining contemporary architectural trends with historical heritage and modernist surroundings requires special attention.
An intimate development with modern finishes
Rezydencja Krochmalna 44 is an intimate project consisting of 27 flats spread over eight floors. The building will also include two two-storey penthouses with roof terraces offering views of the Warsaw skyline. The developer has taken care of the high-class finishing of the common areas, where materials such as terrazzo imitation stoneware and polished concrete have been used. A distinctive feature of the building is to be a floral façade, modern lighting in the lobby and a glass lift leading to the upper floors.
Krochmalna Street in 2019 and 2025. Photo: Google Maps and WhiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Controversy and the future of the surroundings of the Krochmalna 44 development
Although the building is only due to be completed in a few months, it is already causing heated debates. Critics accuse the project of being out of harmony with its surroundings, while supporters point to its bold approach to urban aesthetics. The key question remains whether the planned frontage, which fills the empty space next to the building, will be realised in the future, giving the blind wall an urban sense.
Krochmalna Street in 2019 and 2025. Photo: Google Maps and WhiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The Krochmalna 44 residence is an example of how contemporary architecture measures up to the challenge of fitting into the historic city centre. Although the project is not yet finished, it already shows how difficult it is to reconcile aesthetic, functional and historical expectations in a changing urban fabric.
Source: vinci-immobilier.co.uk
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