The perfect second home? This sea-view flat demonstrates that a living space can be functional, bold and completely uncompromising all at once. The flat in Gdańsk was designed by architects from the Magma studio. It is an interior that defies convention, creating a space with a distinctive character and a strong identity.
The premise was simple: to create a place you’d want to return to even from the other end of the country. The flat was intended to be an escape from everyday life, which is why safe beiges and predictable Scandinavian restraint were rejected from the outset. Nor were obvious seaside motifs used. Instead, the focus was on an intense colour scheme that matches the view of the marina and the Sol Marina development on Sobieszewska Island.
The backdrop for this bold palette is the floor, the only subdued element of the interior. The Palladiana collection by Ceramica Bardelli, inspired by the Roman technique of laying irregular stone fragments, introduces elegance and visual warmth. It serves as a stable base that organises the composition and allows the stronger accents to come to the fore.
In summer, life in the flat moves onto the spacious balcony, which flows naturally into the living area. Outside the summer season, the living room becomes the functional centre – spacious, open and inviting total relaxation. Its focal point is a print by Martyna Kaźmierczak, created especially for this project. This single element gives the interior a distinctive character and emphasises its uniqueness.
The layout of the flat has been designed to make the most of the floor space and enhance the feeling of spaciousness. Thanks to its double doors, the bedroom can function as part of the open-plan living area or as a private retreat. The centrepiece is a bespoke bed. Mornings with a view of the shimmering water and the marina become an everyday occurrence here.
The bedroom stands out for its warm ceiling colours and rich oak veneers. One of the walls is made of sandblasted glass, which subtly illuminates the darker bathroom whilst maintaining complete privacy. The motif of rounded forms recurs throughout the flat (in the walls, furniture and details), introducing softness and cohesion.
The bathroom continues this aesthetic. The eye is drawn to the washbasin from the Italian manufacturer AXA and the sculptural built-in units, which conceal practical elements, including the washing machine. This is an example of how functionality can be combined with a refined form.
The whole space has been designed to make the room appear larger. This is aided by veneered surfaces, which sometimes serve as cladding and at other times as concealed storage. This has allowed us to avoid heavy furniture and maintain a sense of visual lightness. The kitchen also departs from classic solutions – it is closer to an avant-garde installation than to traditional fitted units.
The flat in Gdańsk serves as a second home, yet offers something more: a design experience where aesthetics and emotion coexist on equal terms. It is a space one returns to not only for rest, but also for inspiration.
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About the studio:
Magma is a studio run by Magdalena Bielicka and Maria Zrzelska-Pawlak, graduates of the Faculty of Interior Architecture and Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Before launching their joint venture, they gained experience abroad, working in renowned design studios and developing both their conceptual and technical skills. After studying at FH Mainz, Maria co-created exhibition projects at Atelier Brueckner in Stuttgart, including the pavilion for Expo 2008 in Zaragoza and the Africa Pavilion for Expo 2010 in Shanghai. She then worked for nearly a year and a half at Massimiliano Fuksas’s studio. In 2008, Magdalena joined OFIS Arhitekti in Ljubljana, where she worked on public, residential and interior design projects – ranging from a complex of hotel villas in the Maldives to a student hall of residence in Paris and an office and commercial tower block in Tehran. Today, as Magma, they design interiors, furniture and architecture, as well as creating graphic identities, exhibition designs and fashion projects. Their portfolio includes, amongst other things, the logo for the Emigration Museum in Gdynia.
design: Magma Studio
photos: Hanna Połczyńska – chronicles
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