This is a building with history. The house is located in Mokotów, Warsaw, and its interior was designed by Łukasz Kałasa of the Kałasa CONCEPT studio. In order to adapt the building to new needs, the body of the building was extended. The modern part visually merges with the old buildings, creating an intriguing marriage of eras.
The house is 300 square metres in size and accommodates a family of five. Thanks to the changes, it has been possible to create a space in which each member of the household has their own space. The old part was extended with two above-ground floors and one underground floor. New living space has appeared both on the side and on the garden side. The building has an additional flat with a separate entrance on the ground floor as well as a work area arranged on level -1, the latter of which also has a separate entrance.
The extensive ground floor now accommodates a dressing room, kitchen, dining room and living room. A guest room and a bathroom have also been created in this area. The private area was arranged on the first floor and consists of a master bedroom with a dressing room and a bathroom, as well as two children’s rooms.
In preparing the project, the architect worked closely with the investors. They decided that the interior would be arranged in a patchwork fashion – the old fabric of the building would be exposed in some places, decorating the space. In this way, the structure of the walls and ceilings as well as the structural elements are exposed. In addition, the new interior is decorated with an old wooden staircase and parquet flooring from the 1970s.
The architect explicitly admits that it was a major challenge to skillfully combine the old building with the new part. During the work, they encountered many ‘surprises’ that required a flexible approach and quick reactions. The ceiling above the first floor was demolished in its entirety, and the steel beams discovered there turned out to be tram rails made in St Petersburg before the war. The new wooden construction of the roof over the old ceiling made it possible to raise the height of the first floor by up to 150 cm. In this way, the Mokotow house gained a lot of space.
The interior is a great example of eclecticism. The austere background colours have been enlivened with colourful furniture and accessories. Some of these are vintage items that the owners found at fairs. Another is furniture that has been refurbished by local craftsmen. The space is also complemented by modern design such as a vase by Malwina Konopacka. The inspiration of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s is very evident here.
design: Kałasa CONCEPT
styling: Anna Tyślerowicz
photography: Marcin Grabowiecki
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