How to combine the functionality of a house with a space that is also an art gallery? Such a challenge was taken up by Anna Budzowska of the BUDUAR studio, assisted by Natalia Kuczynska. The result is an apartment where everyday life mixes with beauty and personal expression of the owners.
Art Apartment - sunlight travels throughout the interior for most of the day, giving it warmth and lightness
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Horseshoe on the Big Island
The apartment is owned by a young couple with two growing daughters, passionate about art and design. Their space was created by combining two apartments and took on a horseshoe-shaped layout. This allows the sun's rays to travel throughout the interior for most of the day, giving it warmth and lightness. The architect said it was crucial to clearly separate the day zone from the night zone, so that artwork could be exposed and everyday items - like sports equipment - discreetly hidden. The greatest satisfaction came from finding a room layout that combined functionality with interior character. The open spaces of the living room and kitchen encourage people to spend time together, while the private area offers tranquility and comfort. In addition, dressing rooms and utility rooms were planned, which was a priority for the investors.
Art Apartment - the private zone offers tranquility and comfort
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
From two apartments - one cohesive apartment
The project was created by combining two apartments. This procedure gave the possibility of a clear division into a living area, open to guests, and a private night zone. The initial idea was to use as many existing elements as possible, but it soon turned out that only wooden floors meet the criteria for durability. Tiles, doors and fixtures had to be replaced. This stage showed once again that poor-quality materials do not defend themselves over time. The new layout included solid and timeless solutions that, on the one hand, give the interiors character and, on the other, guarantee that the apartment will be just as comfortable after years of intensive use.
Art Apartment - view of the apartment's living room
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Color as the language of space
Although art was supposed to be the most important thing, the architects decided to complement the interior with color accents. Thanks to them, the apartment is not just a neutral background for paintings, but tells a story in itself. Colorful tiles appeared in the kitchen, peachy-pink hues in the bathroom near the children's area, and vivid blue accents in the entrance area. The living room is complemented by a sofa in warm tones. Color in this apartment does not dominate, but gives rhythm and enlivens the space, making each part of the apartment have a distinct character, while creating a harmonious whole.
Art Apartment
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Art collection in the role of host
The most distinctive element of the arrangement, however, is the art. The owners' collection, built up consistently over the years, has grown into the structure of the apartment and determined its ultimate character. Each work of art has found its place with full awareness of the context:
- The hall opens with a painting by Jozef Halas, accompanied by works by Anka Mierzejewska.
- The living room focuses attention around a work by Hanna Krzetuska, while the dining room features a work by Konrad Jarodzki, juxtaposed with a painting by Jan Pamula.
- The bedroom is a more intimate space, filled with works by Maria Michałowska, Zdzisław Jurkiewicz, Jan Berdyszak or Alfons Mazurkiewicz. They are complemented by prints in the spirit of Egon Schiele.
- The corridor between the bedrooms is decorated with paintings by Andrzej Gieraga and Urszula Madera, introducing an intimate, contemplative mood.
Arranged in this way, the space not only exposes art, but also allows it to be experienced on a daily basis. It gives the interior a rhythm and sets the emotional tone of the apartment.
Art Apartment - art in the apartment plays a very important role
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Light - an ally of the painting
Lighting turned out to be not without significance. In the apartment it was worked out in detail - from the illumination of the glass cabinet, which required a series of trials and corrections, to the positioning of the lamps in terms of the paintings. The light brings out textures, highlights colors and makes the interior look completely different during the day and in the evening. In this way, it becomes another narrative tool, building the mood and completing the overall design.
Art Apartment - the bathroom is dominated by a peach hue
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Process and implementation
Work on the interior took nearly nine months. Much of the furniture and built-ins were made to measure, according to precise architectural designs. As a result, the whole is coherent and free from compromise. The apartment became a place where practical solutions are not at odds with aesthetics, and art does not compete with everyday life - on the contrary, the two spheres complement each other.
Art Apartment - view of the kitchen
Photo: Studio Migdał © BUDUAR
Interior open to the future
Art Apartment on the Big Island is an example of a space that was designed with the present in mind, but with respect for the future. It is not a decoration subordinated to trends, but a home that evolves with its occupants. Accessories, colors or layout of accessories change, but a well-designed base remains relevant. The Wroclaw apartment shows that an interior can be more than a functional arrangement of rooms - it can be a living context for art and everyday life.
