Mid-century Warsaw apartment renovated to “draw on its architectural context”

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Richly patterned Alpi veneer and honey-coloured oak parquet characterise this Warsaw apartment interior by emerging Polish designer Dawid Konieczny.

Located in Warsaw’s Praga district, the apartment is housed within a 1950s estate originally designed by Polish architects Jerzy Gieysztor and Jerzy Kumelowski.

Dawid Konieczny-designed apartment in Warsaw — Dawid Konieczny has renovated a mid-century apartment in Warsaw

Konieczny sought to honour the building’s post-war character when creating the interior, layering it with “warmer tones” and eclectic materials to add a contemporary touch.

“I wanted to draw on the architectural context itself, so that the references to mid-century modern and modernism would be historically grounded in the building’s fabric,” he told Dezeen.

Floor-to-ceiling shelving unit in a mid-century Warsaw apartment — The living space is defined by a bespoke floor-to-ceiling shelving unit

Spread across 55 square metres, the apartment’s layout was completely reconfigured. Konieczny transformed the former living room into a west-facing bedroom, while an open-plan living area was created from the original kitchen and small bedroom.

The living space is defined by a bespoke floor-to-ceiling shelving unit crafted from swirly California Burr veneer, a material originally designed by Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass for veneer manufacturer Alpi in the 1980s.

“I chose the wood as the defining texture that sets the tone for the interior,” explained Konieczny, who crafted the shelving himself.

Timber dining chairs custom-made for the project — Angular dining chairs were custom-made for the project

The designer restored the space’s oak parquet flooring by sanding it and colouring the wood with a new stain to “bring renewed vibrancy” to the interior.

Konieczny balanced these contemporary updates with mid-century furniture pieces as an ode to the building, including Brazilian architect Sergio Rodrigues’s slouchy 1959 Sheriff chair.

Angular timber dining chairs were custom-made for the project, informed by the work of modernist French furniture designer Pierre Chapo.

A petite, galley-style kitchen was tucked into the corner of the living space, enlivened by marble olive-hued tiles decorated with an abstract pattern.

Neutral-hued bedroom in a mid-century apartment in Warsaw — The bedroom offers a gentle backdrop

The bedroom has a gentle backdrop of sandy hues and features a low-slung Konieczny-designed bed frame and delicate gauzy curtains.

A selection of gridded tiles clad the bathroom, including a blocky crimson-red sink and black and white flooring and walls.

“The tiles complete the design and create a cohesive and balanced narrative throughout,” said Konieczny.

Dawid Konieczny-designed bathroom — Konieczny chose a selection of gridded tiles for the bathroom

Konieczny founded his eponymous interior design firm in 2021. Last year, the designer furnished another Warsaw apartment to echo the compact size and sophistication of a hotel room.

The Polish capital includes a slew of other homes by up-and-coming creatives, including a colourful apartment recently designed by Mistovia for food blogger Rozkoszyny. Mistovia was crowned emerging interior designer of the year at the 2024 Dezeen Awards.

The photography is by Oni Studio.

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