Warsaw has been fascinated by contrasts for years - turn-of-the-century tenements hide right next to modernist skyscrapers, and modern apartment buildings neighbor surviving fragments of old buildings. It is in such a context that the realization of Roland Stańczyk was created - an apartment awarded the prestigious A "Design Award 2024. This is not only a luxurious pied-à-terre for a couple regularly visiting the capital, but also an example of extremely conscious design. Every element of the interior was subordinated to the idea of dialogue with the history of the place and the needs of the owners, who wanted to feel "at home" here more than in the most exclusive hotel.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk - the interior is dominated by classic forms, soft lines and noble materials
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
From search to decision
The couple, who live in a picturesque part of northern Poland by day, were looking for a place in Warsaw with a unique character. Together with an architect, they looked at many prestigious offers until they came across a building that met all their expectations. The choice was determined not only by the location and architecture, but also by the high standard of finish - panoramic aluminum windows, modern installations and a spacious garage. A special role was also played by the terrace - as much as 120 meters of open space with a view of the surviving buildings from more than a century ago. It was this that made the investors feel they had found a place to match their plans.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk - grays dominate, broken by beiges and shades of wood, and expressive accents appear in private rooms
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
Dialogue of eras
When designing the interior, Roland Stańczyk had to face a challenge: how to combine modern solutions with the context of historical architecture? He opted for subtle references to Warsaw apartments from the 19th and 20th centuries. Stylized details, which rarely appear in his projects in new buildings, here found their natural justification. The interiors do not pretend to be museum reconstructions, but instead engage in a dialogue with the history of the place - introducing classic forms, soft lines and noble materials that harmoniously coexist with contemporary solutions. This gives the apartment a timeless character.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk - the kitchen is dominated by round shapes
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
Light that defines the space
Light became the key motif of the realization. The rearrangement of the wall layout made it possible to connect the living area with a representative hallway lined with striped marble flooring. Double-leaf glass doors and raised lintels with fanlights made the sun's rays penetrate more freely into the interiors, emphasizing the carefully selected color palette. The dominant colors are grays broken by beiges and shades of wood, and there are distinctive accents in the private rooms: pink in the lady of the house's bedroom, the juxtaposition of indigo and dark brown in the study, blues in the bathroom or timeless black and white in the toilet. It is the light that gives the space its rhythm and makes the interior come alive at different times of the day.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk - view of the dining area
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
Detail as the language of architecture
Carefully designed furniture developments serve not only a utilitarian function, but also a compositional one. They create a consistent rhythm that leads through the entire apartment. Fronts with panels refer to the tradition of the 19th century, rounded corners give fluidity and softness of movement, and lines inspired by modernism of the interwar years add lightness to the whole. A true display of craftsmanship is the kitchen peninsula - finished with a soft arch that repeats the floor motif, made with the precision made possible by waterjet cutting. Similar solutions can be found in the bathrooms, where stone and wood are combined in curved forms, corresponding to the oval shapes of the bathtub and washbasin.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
Luxury in harmony with nature
Stańczyk's design shows that luxury does not need excess. The strength of this apartment is built by natural materials: walnut in the living room, eucalyptus in the bedroom, French herringbone oak on the floor. The bathrooms are decorated with terazzo juxtaposed with marble, and complemented by custom-made wallpaper. Equally important is the original furniture - beds designed by the architect, complemented by mattresses from renowned European manufacturers, or a dining table set with Italian chairs with individually selected upholstery. The interior is also enriched by lighting elements from brands such as Masiero, Terzani and Moooi, as well as refined details - such as stainless steel electrical fixtures and a stylized Devon&Devon radiator.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
Art as a complement
The unique character of the apartment is determined by the presence of works of contemporary art. The architect, in cooperation with art dealer Robert Swaczynski, introduced works by Tomasz Górnicki, Jerzy Mierzejewski, Henryk Musiałowicz and Leszek Nowosielski into the interior. These are objects that, although created recently, subtly dialogue with the past. Their presence reinforces the idea of the project: to create an interior that is not just an aesthetic arrangement, but a coherent story about culture, art and time.
Warsaw apartment designed by Roland Stańczyk - in the unique character of the apartment is determined by the presence of works of contemporary art
photo by Piotr Gęsicki
An apartment to suit contemporary Warsaw
Roland Stanczyk's realization is an example of interior architecture, in which every design decision stems from respect for place and history. The apartment does not exude glamour, but builds its strength through quality, harmony and the art of detail. The A "Design Award 2024 only confirms that we are dealing with an exceptional project - one that goes beyond standard notions of luxury and redefines the meaning of elegance in modern Warsaw.
