On the most recognizable Piotrkowska Street in Lodz, there are many tenement houses still unrenovated. How to design their interiors to simultaneously respect history and respond to the contemporary needs of residents? Students from the School of Art and Design in Lodz tried to answer this question .
As part of the course Designing Universal Interiors taught by Jaroslaw Striker, students had a choice of designing several topics. Aleksandra Bieganska, Joanna Plocka and Anita Pawelczyk chose an apartment in a historic tenement at 118 Piotrkowska Street.
Under the subject Universal Interior Design, students are taught the ability to avoid stereotypical solutions and propose original concepts suitable for a variety of interiors. This project is also the first opportunity in the course of studies to design in a historical environment. The students chose to design an apartment in a historic tenement at 118 Piotrkowska St. The tenement was built in the 1870s by Julius Schultz, the second floor was added according to a design approved in 1891, and the outbuildings according to designs from 1888 and 1895. In 2022-2024, the tenement underwent a major renovation as part of the "Area Revitalization of the Center of Lodz - Project 5" - the area around Schiller Passage and Sienkiewicz Park
- tells Jaroslaw Striker.
deep colors and tranquility in the city center
Aleksandra Bieganska opted for an eclectic character of the interior and juxtaposed classicizing accents with Art Nouveau and modern ones. Wooden parquet with a timeless herringbone pattern, a deep green tiled stove and cherry-colored furniture create a warm, cozy and at the same time elegant composition.
visualization
proj.: Aleksandra Bieganska
The author planned to merge the former two apartments into one larger one with an area of 133 square meters. This gave her the opportunity to design a spacious living room with a view of Piotrkowska Street and a maximally developed kitchen. Bedrooms intended for a 2+1 family were located on the other side, so their windows overlook the so-called "Palace Backyard", so they don't get as much noise as from the front.
projection
designed by Aleksandra Bieganska
with attention to the choice of materials
Joanna Plocka also decided to combine classic and modern. However, her design is dominated by muted shades of beige and brown, making the project not only classic and universal, but also cozy. Here and there, navy blue accents shine through.
The living room, which is the very center of the apartment and is the first room you enter, elegant stucco walls highlight the high ceiling. The kitchen is combined with the dining room, but a spacious carpet laid under the table and chairs clearly separates the zones from each other.
visualization
proj.: Joanna Plocka
Selected materials such as linen on the wall in the living room, the wool of the carpets or the solid wood used for the desk in the home office area make the apartment designed by Joanna Plocka a cozy living space.
projection
design: Joanna Plocka
Subdued colors in a classic look
The author was inspired by decorative chandeliers, characteristic of the tenement's courtyard. The interior was designed with respect for the building's 19th-century pedigree in mind, hence the classicist stucco or the tiled stove, made by the Polish company Kafel-Kar.
visualization
design: Anita Pawelczyk
Craftsman elements appear in almost every designed room. In the entrance hall, wooden cabinets are decorated with a panorama of 19th-century Lodz. The ceiling in the living room is covered with impastos inspired by the work of Mia Chaplin.
projection
design: Anita Pawelczyk
To finish the interior, the author chose noble materials, such as marble, oak parquet and wall tiles with a pearl finish.
Thanks to the subject led by Jaroslaw Striker, the students had the opportunity to learn about the methods of designing spaces with a unique historical character, and their projects show how differently the same interior can be designed.
