It is situated in one of the blocks belonging to a teachers’ housing cooperative on the border between Bielany and Żoliborz in Warsaw.The third floor without a lift usually conjures up a set of stereotypical images: a cramped cubbyhole, a dark corridor, and an interior that demands more compromises than it offers possibilities. Here, however, it is different. Here are the results of the transformation of this 35-square-metre flat.
This flat has been home to the owner’s family since the 1990s and has witnessed successive stages of their lives over the decades. When the need for change arose, the decision to carry out a thorough modernisation proved to be a way of symbolically breaking with the past – without severing ties with what was valuable. Zuza Morawska from Metraż Studio was invited to collaborate on the project, and she approached the existing space with respect for its history.
The interior was originally designed by an architect who lived here in the 1980s. It was she who introduced the pine built-in furniture, parquet flooring, natural stone and distinctive details: rattan panels, rounded edges, glazing and brass handles. The quality of the materials and the consistency of the original concept meant that many elements have stood the test of time. Zuza Morawska decided to preserve them, whilst at the same time giving them a contemporary context.
The most significant change was opening up the kitchen, which allowed light to flow freely throughout the entire flat. The designer also introduced touches of black, which bring order to the composition and add definition. The functions of the individual zones have been adapted to the owner’s current needs, yet without interfering with what defined the character of the interior.
The modernisation concept was based on making the most of existing materials. Instead of replacing them, they were restored. The parquet flooring was revitalised, the marble flooring in the kitchen and bathroom regained its original lustre, and the first owner’s original desk was given a new look. The marble shelf beneath the mirror was created from a salvaged piece of stone, and the wardrobes were refreshed, giving them a character consistent with the overall design. As a result, the flat has not only retained its identity but has also gained a new quality.
The paintings by Edyta Złomaniec have become an important element of the composition. Their intense colours and bold forms provide a contrast to the calm palette of the interior. They act as accents that organise the space and highlight its light, without dominating it.
Today, the flat combines layers that have built up over several decades. Wood that continues to age, marble with visible signs of wear, solid window sills, pine bookcases and the designer’s contemporary interventions form a cohesive whole.
design: Metraż
photos: Martyna Rudnicka
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