Filip Domagała is an interior architect with many years of experience. He finally decided to realise a project he had been planning for a long time. He was looking for a space where he could allow himself full creative freedom and use an aesthetic that was different from the one in which he usually works for clients. The opportunity presented itself when he came across a neglected flat in a pre-war building. Despite the fact that the project was commercial in nature and the flat was for sale after renovation, for the designer it became a field for experimentation and personal satisfaction.
A flat in a tenement and its history
The 52sq m flat was located in a building that had been partially destroyed after being hit by a bomb during the war. For decades, an elderly doctor lived there, who lived to be almost a hundred years old. She left behind an interior full of memories, but in need of a complete refurbishment and change of character. For Philip, it was the ideal place to realise an idea that had been maturing in his head for some time and wanted to come to fruition.
52 sq m full of challenges
Even at the inspection stage, the architect knew that the renovation would not be easy. The flat lacked a bathroom and the shower was in the kitchen. A small toilet was the only sanitary room. During the work, it was discovered that the wall planned for demolition was structural and ran through all floors of the building. It was therefore necessary to reinforce the ceilings and use steel stringers. This made it possible to open up the living space and introduce a striking connection between the bedroom and the living room. The opening between the two was framed with travertine and closed with a metal and glass door, which provided light for both rooms.
Ecology and the second life of objects
During the demolition, Domagała tried to save as many items from the old days as possible. He sold some of the furniture or gave it away to people who wanted to give it a new life, while the old doors were taken to a farm where they were used as wall decorations. The architect admits that he was keen to ensure that as few materials as possible went to landfill. The re-use of the wooden floors had to be abandoned because of the harmful glue with which they were fixed.
Tenement living and the spirit of design
As none of the old objects and finishes matched the new concept, the designer started searching for design classics. On the internet, he managed to find original furniture from decades gone by, including an armchair and chairs by Marcel Breuer and ‘Zetka’ chairs by Ernst Moeckl. Once refreshed, they became the focal points of the new arrangement. They gave the interior a vintage feel, which Filip wanted to juxtapose with modern solutions.
A departure from minimalism
The designer normally works in the aesthetics of Scandinavian minimalism, but this time he allowed himself bolder means of expression. He opted for warmer colours, noble materials and retro elements. He realised a project based on a dialogue between contemporary trends and timeless elegance. Although the flat was intended for sale, the architect did not look for savings and consistently chose high-quality materials.
Designer furniture by Filip Domagała
The arrangement features oak floors, quartz conglomerate worktops, custom-made furniture, carefully selected stoneware and mosaics, and doors with concealed frames. The kitchen features a ceramic undermount sink and brushed steel fittings, and the bathrooms are fitted with ceramics from renowned brands. Every element has been refined to the smallest detail. Domagała designed the original furniture himself, including the table, lamp, handles, console and bed. In the design, he made sure to maximise the use of space and functional solutions, such as a TV storage compartment hidden behind a mirrored wall.
A flat in a townhouse after a facelift
The result is a flat in which high aesthetics go hand in hand with thoughtful functionality. For Filip Domagała, this was a realisation that allowed him to go beyond the usual schemes and reminded him that interior design can be not only a profession, but also a personal form of creative expression.
Design: DOMagała Design (Filip Domagała)
Photography: Mood Authors
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