This was a project that was both demanding and exciting. A 19th-century tenement house on Szczytnicka Street in Wrocław – in the heart of Ostrów Tumski, just a few steps away from the complex of historic buildings including the Cathedral of St. John – required design solutions rooted in history, yet functionally modern. The compact apartment needed to be aesthetically refined, as the investor is a representative of the interior design industry. At the same time, it had to be arranged in a practical and durable manner, since it serves as a short-term rental apartment.
The age of the building is proudly revealed through exposed brickwork and visible arched lintels in several places. We sought to reference its 19th-century origins through decorative woodwork, a French herringbone parquet floor, ceiling stucco, and stylized light switches and sockets that mimic old Bakelite electrical fittings. The “age of coal and steam” also inspired the loft-style glass partition, which allows for the creation of an intimate sleeping area within the open-plan interior.
Echoing the pre-war Breslau – the mysterious city depicted in Marek Krajewski’s novels – are the bentwood chairs with Viennese wickerwork and the rounded forms of many furniture pieces, sinks, and mirrors. We aimed to evoke the famed luxury of that era through the stone wall claddings in the bathroom and the patterned veneers, visible for example on the kitchen cabinetry fitted into the corner of the room. The bed with angled legs and the architectural prints on the walls refer to the post-war history of the city. Meanwhile, the multicolored totemic lamps and decorative accessories in fresh, intense colors strongly emphasize the contemporary aspect of the space.
Visualizations
