The architect of Studio Organic has arranged a 56-square-meter apartment in the center of Warsaw into a place conducive to tranquility, rest and contemplation. This is how the ascetic and intriguing space "Purista" in the style of luxury minimalism was created. We talk about the themes and challenges of this project with its author, Aga Kobus.
The apartment of Studio Organic's project under the enigmatic name "Purista" is located in one of the old tenement houses, in the very center of Warsaw, on the way to the airport. Its owners wanted the apartment to be functionally arranged, with a division into three rooms. However, architect Aga Kobus saw a different potential in it. She decided to create a design dominated by simplicity, open spaces, natural colors and materials. At the same time, the interior was organized to meet the basic needs of its inhabitants.
Katarzyna Domagała: The project is called "Purist", why?
Aga Kobus: The name is derived from the word pure, which means: pure in form and expression, without unnecessary elements.
Catherine: What was the main idea behind the concept?
Aga: Admittedly, the investors planned to arrange the space into a three-room functional apartment, but we saw a different, more intriguing potential of this interior. We wanted to create a spacious urban refuge, devoid of spatial restrictions and distracting elements. An interior conducive to tranquility, rest from the hustle and bustle of the city, and contemplation.
Living room in earthy colors promotes tranquility and contemplation
vision: Studio Organic
Catherine: The minimalist solutions worked best?
Aga: Yes, specifically those characteristic of luxury minimalism.
Katarzyna: What are the characteristics of such interiors?
Aga: They are spacious and bright, and at the same time very functional to meet all basic human needs. They are not "overloaded" with furniture or accessories, they give the impression of being ascetic. They are also characterized by numerous built-ins in the walls or thoughtful and custom-made lighting, which is not only to give light, but also to emphasize the specifics of the interior.
Functional storage spaces discreetly hidden in the walls
vision: Studio Organic
Katarzyna: What solutions were used in "Purist"?
Aga: First of all, we opened up the space as much as possible by introducing numerous glazing and mirrors. We managed to do this despite the unfavorable, difficult shape of the apartment and the thick, stone bearing walls. We also raised all doorways to the maximum possible heights, making the interior appear taller. We blended the built-ins into the walls, limiting the input of stimuli from additional objects in the field of view. We used a bright and warm, almost monochromatic, color scheme.
Decorations taken directly from nature
vision: Studio Organic
In the largest of the rooms we found, we arranged a bedroom, whose elongated shape needed balancing. We achieved this effect by placing a mirrored panel on the longer wall. In the rest of the apartment, we enclosed the bathroom and toilet behind mirrored walls. The rest of the space is a living room connected to the kitchen, with a table in the center. The space is illuminated by large windows.
The bedroom was arranged in the largest room
vision: Studio Organic
All solutions used in this interior are typical of our way of designing. We focus on open, bright spaces that provide a sense of spaciousness and comfort for the senses.
Catherine: What materials did you use?
Aga: Mainly of natural origin, of high quality, which only gain in value and presence over time. There is a wooden floor in warm tones and mobile furniture made of natural wood from Italian and Danish manufacturers. In the bathrooms on the floor, furniture and walls, we have used a material that evenly covers the surface without unnecessary joints and does not react with water. In turn, linen dominates in textiles. We are particularly fond of ascetic aesthetics derived from the narrative of nature, hence this direction.
Bathroom and toilet consistently maintained in minimalism
vision: Studio Organic
Catherine: Which is also evident in the color scheme of the interiors you design.
Aga: We love to use colors from the palette of earth colors in projects. We usually go for muted beiges and browns, broken whites, various notes of green. We play with different shades, experiment with light and materials.
Catherine: This interior is ideal for...?
Aga: Active people, leading a nomadic lifestyle, treating it like a luxury hotel, a refuge, an asylum. It's an interior that doesn't stimulate, but soothes. It helps you focus on your gut and your body's natural needs.
