For several years now, the Association of Interior Designers has been organising the SAW Interior of the Year Competition, which recognises the most beautiful private and public interiors. We have checked out the interiors of which houses and flats have been appreciated this year. Interestingly, one such interior is the architect’s own flat.
The jury selects the most beautiful interiors submitted to the competition. The experts have a lot to choose from. From year to year, architects prepare more refined realisations, which could successfully compete in international competitions of the architectural industry.
The jury of the competition, which consisted of representatives of various professions, awarded the main prize in the category of private interiors almost unanimously. The most beautiful private interior in Poland was designed by Patrycja Dybowska and Matylda Kurkiewicz from the PAMA STUDIO studio in Wrocław. Their design of the “Apartament przy Księcia Witolda” is characterised by almost architectural poeticism.
The well-designed space of the less than 50-square-metre flat has been given a very coherent, minimalist form. The design exhausts one hundred per cent of the functions that can be accommodated here, while at the same time realising each of these functions without compromising the convenience of use. What’s more, in the successful division of the available floor space, which was achieved by means of an interesting spatial structure, the individual functions in the flat intermingle. And this is what always captivates us in architecture,” justified Agnieszka Stefańska /chairperson of the competition jury/ in her laudation.
Second and third place can be found in the photo gallery:
The second prettiest private interior in Poland is the “Author’s flat” designed by wiercinski-studio. The jury awarded this project for its uniqueness and consistency of creation, i.e. the values that the jurors were looking for in the competition entries. This is a very interesting realisation, as it is an example of how an architect has designed an interior for himself.
He combines the space of a century-old tenement with industrial elements, but does so in a formula that is authentically authorial. The consistently developed design language is based on steel profiles, which can be seen in the multifunctional partition walls, the built-in furniture and even the free-standing furniture – including the sofa in the living room. The character of the arrangement was defined by as many as 40 individually designed objects of different scales, made by local craftsmen. The result of the flat renovation is a space that is exquisitely balanced. Unique, yet free from exaggeration. Formally expressive, but above all functional, ” emphasised Aleksander Jankowski /juror, member of the Management Board of SAW/ when presenting the award.
We publish the third place award after the photo gallery:
The final place on the podium went to architect Bartłomiej Zabój of THEZA Architekci for his ‘WrocLoft’ project. This realisation caused a lot of controversy during the deliberations. However, design courage prevailed in the discussion, and some jury members particularly appreciated the successful combination of materials, colours and textures.
The objective necessity of replacing all the existing finishing elements of the two-storey loft provided the impetus for measures that deserve attention. The interior of the historic school building lost its historical features during its recent conversion to flats. The project’s designer decided to bring them out from under the plasterwork or buildings once again – and expose them regardless of their imperfections. In this volume, largely open spaces were created in accordance with the investor’s needs, but with perfectly distinguished functions. “WrocLoft is not a project for everyone, but it is undoubtedly worth noticing as a truly unique creation,” said Malwina Konopacka, product designer and illustrator, member of the jury.
In addition to the prizes, the jury of the SAW 2025 Interior of the Year competition also awarded statutory distinctions. In the category of private interiors, the first of these went to Magdalena Romanowska from the Romanowska Studio in Warsaw for the ‘Design of an Apartment in the City Centre’. In a coherent architectural setting with a large proportion of natural wood, numerous travel souvenirs and objects of timeless design were harmoniously combined here. The second award went to the “House of Colour” – a house on a ROD allotment, which was designed by Karol Pasternak, Piotr Maciaszek and Aleksandra Hyz of Warsaw-based NOKE Architects. The jury particularly appreciated the author’s spatial solutions and the courage to use a strong range of colours, with intense red and sapphire at the forefront.
source: press materials
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