On the Nowy Strzeszyn estate in Poznan, there is a flat that is both a manifesto and a private refuge. The architects from One Studio designed it for themselves, so not as a showcase or showcase project, but as a space where everyday life is meant to be calm, minimalist and calming.
Showing the architects’ own flats is very interesting. Such realisations best reflect the personality of the architects and present interiors that are tailored to their needs. Architects do not have to follow an imposed style or budget. They design from the heart.
This was not meant to be a show project. We simply wanted to live in a place that gives us peace of mind. Where everything has its place, does not tire the eye and does not demand constant attention. It was all about silence – visual and emotional,” emphasise the architects of One Studio.
The living room with a kitchen open to the private garden is the heart of the flat. Large sliding glass windows almost blur the boundary between inside and outside, and the garden with its terrace and low vegetation has become a natural extension of the house. – ‘ We wanted going outside to be as intuitive as going into the kitchen for a cup of coffee,’ say the architects, pointing to the simplicity and fluidity of everyday gestures that the design was intended to facilitate.
Muted colours dominate the interior: warm beiges, broken whites, graphites and natural woods. They form a neutral backdrop to life, not competing with it but supporting its rhythm. Every element – from the edgy dining table to the graphically patterned carpet – was chosen with great care.
We tried to avoid obvious solutions. We did not want an interior ‘for show’. Every piece of furniture, material or detail is the result of a search – not so much for design, but for functionality and emotion,” they explain.
The living space flows seamlessly into more intimate areas. One of the owners’ favourite places is the small study, which serves several functions at once: an office, a dressing room and sometimes a refuge to shut up with one’s thoughts. It features a large arched mirror, natural veneer cabinetry and soft carpeting to absorb sound and enhance the sense of calm. Aesthetic consistency can also be seen in the upstairs bedroom. The minimalist space is complemented by The Frame TV, which discreetly displays images from selected museums and galleries from around the world.
We designed the space for ourselves exactly the way we work with clients: from the general to the detail, with an emphasis on light, texture and function. Except that this time it was our life that was the brief,” the architects conclude.
The flat in Nowy Strzeszyn is therefore not only a place to live, but also a testament to One Studio’s approach to design: attentive, focused on emotions and everyday needs. It is a space that offers silence – and it is in this silence that its greatest strength lies.
Design: Jednostudio
Photographs: Radosław Słowik (bilbil.pl)
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