Interview about Socialist Apartment Residential House, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2023
Socialist Distric Apartment stylistically fits into the architectural style of MDM social realist city district built on the ruins of post-war Warsaw. Details of the designed furniture and doors correspond to Polish ornamentation from the 40s and 50s. New bespoke furniture has been juxtaposed with this renovated in art deco style. The decor of the flat is complemented by paintings of the Polish artists from the first half of XX century.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsWarsaw has lost its architectural substance. It was completely ruined by the Germans in 1944. The buildings built shortly after the war are the ones of the oldest, apart from the few that have been preserved. They are among the most interesting, located in the city center. It is our duty to respect them and adapt them to modern requirements. We can change and adapt the interiors while preserving what is valuable. The exterior must remain unchanged.
were the few, that were designed coherently. They had interiors you did want to stay in. They were supposed to be the showcase of communism. I observed them appreciating the consistency of design. I observed the details. New technological possibilities allowed me to recreate them craftsmanship and implement them in the designed interior.
The challenge was to replace the windows with triple-glazed, soundproof ones with increased thermal insulation.It was also difficult to hide the central heating riser running almost in the middle of the newly designed bathroom in the shower cabin pillar.It was also necessary to replace the floor layers and remove the falling plaster.The electrical installation has been completely replaced.
The new designed furniture refers to the facade details, as well as to the solutions used in other buildings built at that time (e.g. the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture).The restored art deco furniture was still produced during the construction of the socialist residential district. Unfortunately, they were usually less interesting than those performed before the war. This was the reason that I decided to find historical examples and have them renovated by a friendly company
The apartment had a difficult layout. It required many architectural repairs. Nevertheless, it was designed as a city apartment for people with a large house in the suburbs of the capital. 65 square meters is enough for a spacious living room, a comfortable bedroom, a small kitchen and a bathroom.An interesting idea that significantly improved functionality was adding a second entrance to the bathroom directly from the bedroom.
I'm interested in art. My greatest passion is Polish 20th century painting. My client and I were looking for paintings by artists whose art dealt with the Polish post-war realities. The apartment contains paintings created during the construction of socialist housing estates, dating back to the 1950s. There is also a serigraphy by Tamara Łempicka, which goes well with Art Deco antiques.
Richly designed stone floors refer to the pre-war bourgeois tradition. Then each element was cut and fitted by hand. Having computer-controlled tools at our disposal: profiling and water jet machines, we can admire the skills of old stonemason masters.I must add that such sophisticated floors appear in these houses only in modern times. The post-war reality was very modest.
Activities in historic buildings are regulated by law in Poland. We must respect our remaining historical heritage.Each architect can individually design interiors in historic buildings, as long as his actions do not contradict the guidelines of the Polish Institution for the Conservator of Monuments.I chose this path in this particular case. Let everyone look for their own.
I like my Warsaw, and this part of it especially. I've been going there most of my life. I lived nearby, so I walked to the University of Technology more often than I commuted. (I live in the suburbs now).I got very emotionally involved when designing these interiors.And the Faculty of Architecture shaped me.Just as I was shaped by the most interesting socialist realist interiors. On the one hand, they were associated with the lack of the beloved freedom, on the other hand, they were the most beautiful, generally available spaces in the city.
There is no contradiction here. The apartment is not a cultural destination, but what Warsaw - the capital of Poland - offers. This place is located in the heart of the bustling city. From here everything is close. From the windows we can see one of the most important streets in Warsaw.The apartment is a fully equipped, comfortable home. For many people, books, art and design are essential elements of comfort.
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