Are you planning to remodel your apartment, but its layout does not meet your expectations? Wondering how to combine functionality with modern design? In this article, we will show you how architects from {tag:pracownie} solved the challenges of arranging an apartment in the Baildomb building. Thoughtful changes to the layout, a coherent material concept and custom solutions made it possible to create an interior tailored to the needs of the residents, while emphasizing the character of the modernist body of the building. Find out how you can solve similar challenges in your home!
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb housing estate in Katowice - living room with gray sofas and yellow pillows
Photo by Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
new functionality of the apartment
- How did the change in layout affect the comfort of the residents?
The original layout of the apartment did not meet the needs of the investors, which necessitated a major reconstruction. At the first floor level, all partition walls were removed, opening up the space and adapting it to the new functional plan. The apartment has two entrances - one on the lower floor, the other on the upper floor - which affected the organization of the interior. Unlike typical two-story apartments, where the living zone is located on the bottom and the private zone on the top, the designers decided to place the common space on the second floor, above the private zone located on the first floor.
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - floor plan
© AVO Architekci
We decided to reverse the standard pattern of two-level arrangements. The entrance on the upper level leads directly to the living area, while the private part is located below
- explains Paulina Babiak-Skwara,
co-founder of AVO Architekci.
The key element connecting the two floors is a circular staircase made of wood. It serves a communicative function, allowing easy movement between levels, and at the same time organizes the space, marking the boundaries between the different zones of the apartment.
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - a circular staircase made of wood connects the two floors.
Photo: Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
Reverse zoning - is it worth putting the living area on the higher level?
The living area on the lower floor includes the living room, kitchen and dining room, designed with material and functional consistency in mind. The living room, located opposite the entrance, uses gray sofas set against white walls. Yellow pillows on the furniture introduce a contrasting color accent, breaking up the neutral palette. Concrete, characteristic of the Baildomb facade, appears on the ceilings, creating a visual connection between the interior and exterior architecture.
Interior of an apartment at the Baildomb development in Katowice - first floor plan
© AVO Architects
The kitchen, adjacent to the living room, was designed in a minimalist style. Its built-ins are based on the juxtaposition of black and white, with handleless fronts, which emphasizes the simplicity of the form. With no additional colors, the kitchen remains a neutral background for the more expressive lounge and dining areas.
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb housing estate in Katowice - kitchen with black and white handleless cabinets.
Photo by Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
The dining room features a round black table surrounded by chairs with yellow upholstery, which alludes to the accents in the living room. Above the table, glossy geometric-shaped lamps have been installed, which distinguish this part of the space and add to its individual character.
The interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - a dining room with a black table and yellow upholstery of chairs.
Photo: Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
Stairs as the focal point of the interior
- How can they organize the space?
The upper floor, accessible via a staircase, includes a private area designed with the comfort of the occupants in mind. The bedroom continues the style of the apartment, relying on white, gray and black. Upholstered panels in shades of blue adorn the arched wall, giving it a distinct look. Yellow curtains and bed upholstery introduce contrast, harmonizing with the blue elements and creating a cohesive color composition.
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - a bedroom with blue panels on an arched wall.
Photo: Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
The private space also includes a work area, equipped with a desk and adequate lighting, and a closet hidden behind white sliding doors. These solutions increase the functionality of the lower level, maintaining the minimalist nature of the arrangement and allowing residents to adapt the space to their daily needs.
Interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - a workspace with a desk in the private area
Photo: Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
hidden doors and optical tricks
- how to enlarge the space in an apartment?
The bathroom, located on the lower floor, reflects the style of the other rooms, using gray, white and natural wood as basic materials. The walls are lined with tiles imitating stone, which create a neutral background for the furnishings. A large sink provides convenience, and well-planned lighting combined with large mirrors optically enlarges the space.
We enlarged the bathroom by "absorbing" one of the entrances. No one knows that there is a hidden entrance door in the laundry closet
- says Paulina Babiak-Skwara.
The interior of an apartment in the Baildomb estate in Katowice - a bathroom with gray tiles and a large sink with two faucets
Photo by Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
Integration with the architecture of the Baildomb estate
The design of the apartment on the Baildomb estate by AVO Architekci combines functionality with a creative approach to design.
Rarely do we design interiors so strongly linked to the context of the building. Thanks to the investors' awareness, we were able to create an arrangement that harmonizes with KWK Promes' vision, taking into account both the form and materials used in Baildomb
- emphasizes Paulina Babiak-Skwara.
The interior of an apartment in the Baildomb development in Katowice - a view of the kitchen and the staircase leading to the private area
Photo by Anna Laskowska Dekorialove © AVO Architekci
The rearrangement of the layout, choice of materials and adaptation to the modernist body of the building create a space that responds to the needs of the residents, while also fitting into the architectural context of Katowice.
