Reinstated Splendour: Historic Apartment in Gdansk by Akurat.

Akurat has reinstated splendour of this apartment set in the heart of Wrzeszcz, one of the oldest districts of Gdańsk, Poland. Under strict conservation protection, the project was a slow burn with the restoration phase alone lasting almost two years.

The windows and door joinery were either faithfully reconstructed or thoroughly renovated. As for the elaborately carved ceiling and wall ornaments, moulds and casts were made by local craftsmen to faithfully recreate and preserve the historical charm of the apartment.

Striving for timeless elegance, a different, more modern approach was taken for the furnishings. Several pieces were carefully sourced at Polish and foreign vintage auctions, while the vast majority were designed by Akurat themselves and made from scratch by some of the best local carpenters.

The hallway has been covered with over 200 timber sections, three metres in length, entirely made of solid oak. Not only serving as a visual accent that warms the interior, these elements also add more guidance throughout the space. Putting emphasis on the main axis of the apartment, the timber wall leads to the focal point of the interior—the living room.

Rozbrat Apartment in Warsaw by Colombe Studio.

Old and new pieces exist in harmony in this remodelled pre-war apartment in Warsaw. Custom joinery and antique objects layered with new pieces...

Cleverly hidden behind this rhythm of gently carved panels is a wardrobe, a pantry, and a door to a truly unique bathroom. With an eerie, irregular and crooked shape, Akurat had to get creative with the bathroom to create a feeling of serenity and cohesion. To do this the studio created a continuous, uninterrupted wave made of meticulously applied finger tiles, smoothly connecting each of the zones. Even a small shelf under the shower fits perfectly in the grout.

At the end of the hallway, in the heart of the living area, a ‘golden island’ teases guests by slightly interrupting the apartment’s main viewing axis. The triangular shape is utilised to organise and zone a highly irregular space, combining the functions of a dining room, living room, and kitchen. Covered with solid brass that will patina over time, the object reflects light from all directions throughout the day.

Huculska Apartment in Warsaw by La Folie Studio.

While the enduring appeal of Classicism persists, this elegant and laid-back Warsaw home artfully reimagines classic fundamentals to create something new...

Rather than designing a dominating kitchen that draws all the attention in the room, the modest kitchenette was considered to maintain a well-balanced space. Small and neat, the kitchen seems closer to a piece of furniture than a separate room within a room. The made-to-order, round dining table is completely made from salvaged, left-over pieces of materials that were used to make the kitchen unit. Unknown, vintage, French dining chairs, with seats made of resin, are a perfect match.

A collection of rare, vintage political posters can be found throughout the apartment, a nod to Gdańsk’s important political role in the history of Poland. Also in the collection is a contemporary painting by Jacek Kłosiński, depicting Lech Wałęsa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the Solidarity movement—the perfect accompaniment to a home straddling the best of the past and present.

A Modernist-Meets-Modern Home in Warsaw by Paradowski Studio.

This apartment is a home of old and new, of metals and mattes, of black and white and colour existing on the same spectrum...

[Images courtesy of Akurat. Photography by Pion Studio.]