Photographer: Pion Studio

The apartment is a part of a more than 100-year-old tenement house located in the heart of one of the oldest districts of Gdańsk, Wrzeszcz. Both the building and the birches growing along the street (from which the street’s name derives) are under strict conservation protection.

The goal was to restore the splendor of these neglected interiors, which had seriously degraded over the decades. Under the continuing supervision of the property's new owner, the restoration phase alone lasted almost two years. Great emphasis was put on the quality and consistency of selected solutions and materials. The windows and door joinery were either faithfully reconstructed or thoroughly renovated. As for the elaborately carved ceiling and wall ornaments, moulds and casts made by local craftsmen were prepared in order to faithfully recreate and preserve the historical charm of the apartment.

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

An element worth paying attention to is the hallway wall, which has been covered with over 200 elements, three meters in length, entirely made of solid oak. This wooden feature doesn’t just serve as a visual accent that warms the interior. It also adds more serenity and guidance throughout the space, putting emphasis on the main axis of the apartment, and leading to the focal point of the interior — the living room. Cleverly hidden behind this rhythm of gently carved elements are a wardrobe, a pantry, and a door to a truly unique bathroom.

Due to its eerie, irregular, crooked shape, working within this space was a real challenge, because we wanted to achieve a feeling of serenity and cohesion. Our solution: a continuous, uninterrupted wave made of meticulously applied finger tiles, which smoothly connect each of the zones while creating a harmonious and memorable experience. Even a small shelf under the shower fits perfectly in the grout. This very modern space only gained in expression when juxtaposed with the apartment’s historical character.

At the end of the hallway, in the heart of the living area, a "golden island” teases guests by slightly interrupting the apartments’ main viewing axis. Its triangular shape results from the desire to organize and zone a highly irregular space, which combines the functions of a dining room, living room, and kitchen. This statement piece has been completely covered with solid brass, which will age over time, gaining character. In the evenings, the object reflects light coming from different directions and angles, and completely changes the overall mood and perception of this space.

The kitchenette, even though modest in size, is completely functional and was designed with the goal of maintaining a well-balanced space. Often, kitchens dominate, drawing all the attention in the room. That’s why our solution is small and neat, seeming closer to pieces 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.

For decades Gdańsk has played a very important political role in the history of Poland. Therefore, the whole is crowned with a collection of rare, vintage political posters collected over the years by the apartment’s new owner (visible in the first part of the hallway), and a contemporary painting by Jacek Kłosiński, depicting Lech Wałęsa - the founder of the Solidarity movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and a person closely associated with the city of Gdańsk.