The architects of the POLE studio, in their own words, believe that budget architecture does not have to be limiting. This is exemplified by a multi-family residential building on Ceramiczna Street in Warsaw.
The starting point for the project was the trees growing on the plot and protected from cutting by the Local Development Plan. Wanting to preserve the existing greenery and at the same time achieve the most effective building size possible, designers from POLE architects studio decided to deform the building. Instead of a simple block on a rectangular plan, the architects proposed to "break" the shape in half, moving one of the parts deeper into the plot and connecting the two blocks with a stepped form.
conceptual scheme
© POLE Architects
The series of faults on the façade created at the point of the break allowed the project's authors to incorporate balconies that dynamize the building's facade. The same happens on the south elevation, where balconies occupy its entire length.
south elevation
© POLE Architects
The minimalist, light-colored mass is varied by golden balcony railings and, emphasizing the rhythm of the facade, light gray fields at the windows and balcony doors.
Ola Kloc: The legal necessity to leave trees on the plot was more of a problem or a challenge?
Bartłomiej Popiela: Leaving the trees was a challenge, and basically an excuse to create a building that was original and in keeping with its surroundings. These constraints made the form more dynamic and unique, fitting only for this location. The faults in the building also gave the opportunity to create an additional quality for residents in the form of corner balconies.
Ola: The building on Ceramiczna Street is mostly surrounded by taller blocks of flats, weren't you concerned that it might "disappear" in such company?
Bartholomew: We did not care about dominance. Above all, we wanted to meet the client's guidelines and the requirements of the Local Plan, which stipulated lower development on this plot. Another important aspect was to provide sunlight for the residents. The curved building helped a lot with this.
Ola: What made you decide not to design balconies on the entire north elevation as you did for the south elevation?
Bartholomew: The orientation of the building and the functional layout were most important in this regard. All living rooms in the building were located on the south side. On the other hand, there are mainly bedrooms on the north side. That's why balconies were designed on the south side, and on the north side - where there are only bedrooms - the balcony appeared at the break of the building, as an additional asset in multi-room apartments.
Ola: Thank you for the interview.
