The interiors of the Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments designed by the Tremend studio have been recognised at the prestigious World Architecture Festival 2023 in Singapore. Not only was the Polish design studio Tremend’s project shortlisted, but it also beat out other projects from all over the world to win First Prize in the INSIDE category – hotels and flats. This is yet another international success for the studio, whose Warsaw development has already been recognised by the organisers of The International Hotel and Property Awards 2023.
The World Architecture Festival is one of the most prestigious competitions of international scope, in which the world’s largest architectural offices compete for the title of the most innovative and exceptional projects. Each year, a ‘shortlist’ of the best developments selected by a jury of world-renowned industry experts is announced. The mere appearance on this list is already a great honour, as evidenced by the fact that this year, in the INSIDE – hotels and flats category, only two studios from Europe were on it. In the end, it was the acclaimed Polish studio Tremend, led by Magdalena Federowicz-Boule, Anna Federowicz and Jarosław Gwóźdz, which was awarded first place by the jury. The jury in Singapore appreciated the masterpiece of the interiors of the Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments, letting themselves be taken on a sentimental journey through Warsaw. The architects from the Tremend studio created interiors that weave a tale of the former capital and invite everyone on a time travel full of surprises, which was appreciated at the World Architecture Festival 2023.
“The Warsaw puzzle is a storytelling of place. The scattered jigsaw puzzle, like crumbs from the past, can be put together by any visitor. Warsaw was almost completely destroyed during World War II. Our storytelling of its neighbourhoods – the interior decoration, which symbolically refers to former cafés, factories and other historical sites – is a return to the past. Reminiscences can be found in many of the details, colours and materials used. It is like a book of Warsaw’s history, a return to its glory. We wanted this building, located at the junction of two districts – Śródmieście and Wola – to be a sentimental journey for Varsovians, and a historical excursion for tourists. We invite you to Grzybowska 49 to the Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments, where the interior decoration and excellent food will remind you of 1920s Warsaw,” says architect Magdalena Federowicz-Boule.
The award is a distinction for the entire studio. For us as architects, it is a motivation for the future and a recognition of our sensitivity and creativity. Being at the World Architecture Festival made us realise how many beautiful and interesting projects are being created around the world. Even more so, representing Poland and Europe, receiving the first prize in the INSIDE – hotels and flats category gives us reason to be proud. The multicultural atmosphere of the event was particularly inspiring for us,” adds architect Anna Federowicz.
The prestigious award is also a great success for the investor – the Marvipol Development S.A. Capital Group, which, being one of the leading Polish developers for over 25 years, with its realisations promotes timeless architecture, comprehensive land development and the highest quality of workmanship.
Appreciation of the work and effort put into the project is a great experience. Representing the Investor, I was involved in the project from the concept formulation stage to its implementation and final commissioning of the facility. I still manage the day-to-day operations of Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments and it’s a pure pleasure to work in such designed interiors,” says Rafał Kincer, General Manager and CEO of Unique Apartments Warsaw Sp. z o.o. – the facility’s operator.
Story of Warsaw
Belonging to Marvipol Development S.A. Capital Group and operating under a franchise agreement with Louvre Hotels Group, the Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments aparthotel has become a pretext for spinning a tale of the most beautiful, forgotten, sometimes non-existent places in the capital city. The concept of interior design, created by the Tremend architectural studio, is a remarkable story of 20th century Warsaw, intricately told through design analogies and bold references to the art and architecture of the period. It is a kind of ‘Warsaw puzzle’, which any guest can put together. The key to the puzzle is a large district plan of the capital city from the 1920s, reproduced on the entrance wall.
The magical journey through time begins in the place where the aparthotel stands today. The entrance area is located on the border of Śródmieście and Wola, on Grzybowska Street. This is also where we find the already mentioned city plan of Warsaw from the 1920s, to which, through the shapes and arrangement of individual zones-districts, the arrangement of the entire ground floor refers. It is reminiscent of a large bas-relief on the wall and allows visitors to familiarise themselves with the design concept of the place already at the entrance, inviting them to search and discover analogies.
Stop –Downtown
From here, it is only a step to the reception area, whose design concept boldly refers to the architecture of the city centre. Analogies to the Rotunda and the idea of it being the only circular building in the city’s cuboid structure are immediately to be found here. The oval shape of the reception desk imitates this eminent object in its very form. Like the Rotunda, it is the only circular design element in the concept of the entire ground floor. In its background we find the original wall decoration, whose harmonious form reflects the structure of the roof of the legendary establishment.
Bar atmosphere in Powiśle
The bar area is inspired by Powiśle. The colour scheme of the venue refers to its landscape. The blue reflects the deep blue of the Vistula River, while the green and wood evoke the wooded banks of the river – the boulevards. The mirror, with which the bar island is finished, reproduces the reflections on the clear surface of the Vistula’s waters on a sunny day. The neon inscription POW, with wave symbols woven in, is an abbreviation for Powiśle. In the metalwork installation on the wall, one can also easily spot the Warsaw Mermaid. The Tremend architects also alluded to the architecture of bridges in the capital.
Lunch in Żoliborz
Żoliborz, as the greenest district in Warsaw, patronises the restaurant space of Royal Tulip Warsaw Apartments. Bottle green is the design basis for the rest of the furnishings. Here, too, the Tremend designers drew inspiration from the district’s characteristic buildings. The vaulted ceiling of the Komedia Theatre was reproduced on the walls, and the heavy velvet curtains in the windows are reminiscent of theatre curtains. The iconic Havana café with its characteristic counter, finished with wooden slats, also became a significant design motif, repeated in the form of wall coverings. Their monotony is interrupted by the ŻOL inscription laid in bricks.
PragueGardens
The full charm of Warsaw’s nature can best be felt in the outdoor seating area. This zone was inspired by Warsaw’s Praga district and its park spaces. However, the symbol of the power of the motor industry of the time could not be missing here – FSO, whose showpiece, the limousine Warszawa, occupies a place of honour between the tables. The brick facades allude to today’s Soho Factory, the former linen manufactory and the “Pocisk” Ammunition Works. The ornamental neon sign and the old cobblestones interspersed with green grass are a tribute to the pearl of this neighbourhood – the Neon Museum.
Remembrance of eminent citizens of the capital
The building also features meeting rooms whose patrons are great Varsovians, such as Fryderyk Chopin, Władysław Reymont, Bohdan Lachert, Loda Halama or Bolesław Cybis. Hence, linear figures and symbols inextricably linked to their activities mark the individual rooms, reminding us of their merits for the city and the country.
Peaceful urbanpuzzle
The flats themselves also allude to the history and architecture of the individual districts of Warsaw. We can find inspiration in them from Żoliborz, Mokotów, Ochota, Saska Kępa and Powiśle. In each of them, the wall is decorated with a graphic with a map of the district in one leading colour. The showpiece of Powiśle is the blue hue of the Vistula River, of Żoliborz – the green of Kępa Potocka Park or Warsaw Citadel. In the family room, inspired by Mokotów, we find the wine-red colour of the vegetation surrounding the building of the National Institute of Public Health. The flat inspired by Saska Kępa is maintained in bright colours, broken with a contrasting, dull orange colour, characteristic of the elevation of buildings in this district.
Authors of the interior design: Magdalena Federowicz-Boule, Kama Kowacz, Daria Cichoń, Renata Kuczera, Emilia Karwowska-Łasocha, Paulina Szarzec, Aleksandra Falba, Aleksander Dymkowski, Dawid Stawowy, Maciej Jasina, Marta Idczak.
More at: http://tremend.pl
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Photos by Piotr Gęsicki
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