For years, Poznań’s Jeżyce district has enjoyed a reputation as one of the city’s most charming and atmospheric neighbourhoods. It is here, in a pre-war tenement house standing at 2/7 Adam Asnyk Square, that Kasia and Szymon decided to create their dream home. Their flat in Jeżyce has undergone a significant metamorphosis, although it still retains the spirit of the place’s history.
However, before the couple fell in love with the atmosphere in Jeżyce, their life was lived to the rhythm of Copenhagen’s streets. It was there that they spent some time and eventually, under pandemic reflections, longed for the proximity of family and friends. The dream of creating a peaceful, ‘slow-hop’ home led them to Poznań, or more precisely to Lake Kierskie. They purchased a villa standing there and began renovating it. The result of these works is Hacjenda Kiekrz, which we wrote about HERE. Kasia and Szymon then also needed a second home in the area so that they could supervise the work from there. That’s when they came across an advert for a flat in a tenement building on the charming Adam Asnyk Square. This is how their Poznań adventure began.
A witness to history and family memories
The flat that stole Kasia and Szymon’s hearts had a fascinating history behind it. It was purchased directly from the family of the owners, who moved in just after the end of the Second World War. A nurse and her husband, the head of the Civic Militia, devotedly cared for every corner throughout their lives. The result of this care, among other things, was the never-cycled parquet floors from the 1950s, which have survived in excellent condition. The building itself, in which the flat is located, is a representative of the modernist architecture of Poznań. Built in 1938-39 to a design by Tadeusz Płończak in collaboration with Józef Jarysz, it forms an integral part of the picturesque Adam Asnyk Square. The history of this square is inextricably linked with the wealthy Kosicki family of Jeżyce. It was they who treated the area as their private garden in the interwar period. The last representatives of the family, having no heirs, decided to donate it to the needs of the local community, especially children. To this day, there is a playground that reminds us of this beautiful history. Today, the area is vibrant with a number of iconic cafés, restaurants and the famous Tramway House, which offers a rich cultural programme.
The Jeżyce flat of Kasia and Szymon – changes
At the time of purchase, the flat was filled with furniture from the communist era. Characteristic lamps, chests of drawers, wardrobes, typical wall units and tiled cookers, which were once used for heating, created an atmosphere of a bygone era. The original layout of the flat included two living rooms connected in an amphilade, one bathroom, a bedroom, a kitchen, a pantry and a servants’ room. However, the new owners had a completely different vision for their dream nest. The aim was to retain as much of the existing condition as possible, including, among other things, the beautiful parquet floors and door joinery, but also to introduce plenty of storage space. During the extensive renovation, Kasia and Simon decided to remove the cookers to improve functionality and increase space. The couple dreamt of one spacious living area, two comfortable bedrooms, a functional office with a sleeping option for guests and two bathrooms. This considerable challenge was taken on by Poznan-based architect Magda Cichoń of KOPER studio. Thanks to her creativity and experience, the flat underwent a spectacular metamorphosis.
An architectural challenge and a masterful implementation
One of the living rooms had a characteristic bay window and an exit to the balcony. It was connected to the other living room by a double door with glass in a shade of yellow. Unfortunately, the old doors no longer closed properly, so Kasia and Szymon decided to replace them with new ones, while retaining the original, carefully restored handles – real gems from the era. By moving a wall, they were able to make one of the living rooms smaller in favour of a new, open-plan living area. The second, smaller living room, overlooking the playground, was transformed into a cosy bedroom for the daughter, who loves to watch life outside the window, especially from the comfortable recliner placed in the bay window. The enlarged living room became the heart of the house – a spacious living area connecting the living room, kitchen and dining room. The smaller living room, as already mentioned, serves as a bedroom and playroom for the children. The owners’ bedroom has undergone the least changes, retaining its original shape. The bathroom has been slightly enlarged to accommodate a large bathtub where both can relax. A functional office was created from the kitchen, and a second, guest bathroom was created from the adjacent servants’ room. The spacious hallway, meanwhile, gained spacious built-in wardrobes.
Jeżyce flat – harmony of modernism and natural colours
During the renovation, Kasia and Szymon tried to refer to the modernist style of the tenement by introducing curves in the furniture. The colour palette was based on broken whites, beiges and natural oak wood. Only in the guest bathroom did they allow themselves a bit of colour experimentation. Such natural colours and simplicity lend harmony to the interior and create a calm base that helps to calm down after an eventful day, especially with young children. The flat’s front door, which has retained its beautiful mahogany colour and characteristic large judas, has also been renovated with attention to detail. The two doors leading into the living room have been removed, creating open passageways, and their beautifully decorated frames have been carefully restored. The original doors to the bedroom and one of the bathrooms have also been restored, retaining their unique charm. New furniture was sourced from Denmark, while the fittings are the result of a collaboration between the architect and the couple, who used EGGER boards in a sandy beige shade and curved elements. Kasia was particularly pleased to find an oval oak table on a steel leg for the proverbial penny. The 12 Italian Cesca chairs she hunted down on OLX in Poznan as ‘conference chairs’.
At the moment, Kasia and Szymon are looking to sell their flat in Jezyce. For family reasons, they are visiting Warsaw more and more often, and trips every other week with small children can be hard. Hacjenda Kiekrz is already a thriving independent slow-hop and does not need constant supervision. The couple has bought a house in Konstancin-Jeziorna, but she points out that this may not be her last word yet either. As Kasia sums it all up, ‘our life is a bit of real estate’.
Source: owners’ materials
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