The Ordynacka tenement house will regain a lost corner. A small apartment building will be built there

An apartment building is under construction at 11 Okólnik Street in Warsaw and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. The building, named Orris Residence, will offer five flats with areas ranging from 160 to 240 sq m, making it a small-scale development. The design refers to the dilapidated corner that the Ordynacka tenement lost during the Second World War.

The area where the project is being developed originally belonged to the Krasinski family, and Okólnik Street itself was built at the end of the 19th century during the expansion of the city centre. In 1912, the Ordynacka tenement house was built here, most likely designed by Henryk J. Gay in neoclassical style, which became one of the more recognisable and elegant buildings in this part of the city. Wartime damage, including damage to the corner and mansard roof, significantly affected its subsequent fate. In the post-war period, the building was only partially rebuilt, resulting in the loss of the original architectural elements.

1925, Krasiński Ordynacja Library, Ordynacka Tenement House in the background. Source: Towarzystwo Opieki Nad Zabytkami Przeszłości (Society for the Care of Monuments of the Past)

Ordynacka

Zobacz

In 2011, the new owner of the Ordynacka tenement, the Okólnik Company, embarked on a three-stage project to renovate the building. The work was aimed at restoring some of the tenement’s former character while adapting it to modern needs. In 2013, the first stage of the renovation was completed, including the refurbishment of the tenement’s interior and the restoration of the courtyard and the entrances to the staircases. The work focused on restoring the 1920s style of the monument.

Ruins near Okólnik and Ordynacka streets, on the left the damaged Ordynacka tenement house is visible. Source: IPN Archives

In the next stage, the project focused on the adaptation of the attic for residential purposes. The newly created sixth floor housed ten flats with areas ranging from 36 to 220 sq m. At the same time, the mansard roof was also reconstructed. Although this solution does not fully reflect the original appearance of the building, it has contributed to the partial restoration of its historic character.

The new building, which is being erected in the vicinity of the Ordynacka tenement house, will have six storeys and its design involves minimal interference with the existing urban layout. A distinctive feature of the investment is to be a two-storey penthouse with a terrace, a two-storey underground car park and planned amenities such as a modern gym and a meeting room, designed for both relaxation and business meetings.

Ordynacka Ordynacka

The facade of the building has been designed in limestone in muted shades of beige and the courtyard features a simple arrangement with a vertical garden, some of the key features of the project. The interiors will be finished with high-quality materials, such as marble and veneer, to reference classic style and sustainability.

The design was created in accordance with the guidelines of the Capital Conservator of Monuments, which meant that reference had to be made to the historical elements of the neighbouring buildings. Among other things, consideration was given to recreating the shape of the inner courtyard, the roof and the gateway passage.

According to the investor, the Orris Residence is part of a broader trend of modernising urban spaces, which combines contemporary solutions with a historical context. Like well-known developments in metropolises such as New York, London and Paris, the development combines modern form with the surrounding architectural heritage, transforming the urban landscape.

Source: Orris Residence, nowawarszawa.pl

Read also: City | Architecture in Poland | History | Warsaw | Tenement house