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Black Amber
Black Amber
Warsaw, Poland
Special Mention, 2024 A+Awards, Residential - Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)
Project Featured on Nov 01, 2024
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Black Amber
Warsaw, Poland
Special Mention, 2024 A+Awards, Residential - Residential Interiors (<3000 sq ft)
Project Featured on Nov 01, 2024
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2023
SIZE
1000 sqft - 3000 sqft
BUDGET
$500K - 1M
Black Amber. Family relations, spatial relations
A 160-square-metre shell dwelling has been converted into a comfortable living space for a couple with their son and the family pet - a large dog. Although very practical, it has a sophisticated form and an exceptionally coherent design. The key to success was the mutual understanding between the investors and the designers.
They were ideal clients. Why? Usually, clients outline their expectations in pretty general terms, but then change the concepts put forward by the architects several times later. As a result, the design process becomes protracted. In this case, things were different - the clients expressed their needs very precisely in the initial discussions. They were well prepared for the discussions, carefully analysing their requirements regarding usability issues and gathering stylistic inspirations close to their hearts.
It was also a well-considered decision to entrust the project to the BAJER SOKÓŁ team. The clients knew they were getting a project with a sophisticated aesthetic. One in which all the technical elements and regular fixtures are hidden so that nothing distracts from the interior composition. The investors' self-awareness and careful and accurate communication enabled the basis for planning to be prepared in the first meetings.
Day house, night house - functional layout
The interiors shown in the photos are the home of a couple with a teenage son. The family also includes a large dog. As the 160 m2 apartment is an elongated rectangle with the entrance almost halfway along its length, the architects of BAJER SOKÓŁŁ proposed an evident space division. To the right of the main entrance is the living area - a kind of open space that combines a living room, kitchen and dining area with the landlord's study. On the left side is the night area - which includes the master area (master bedroom with integrated bathroom and dressing room) and the son's room.
As quickly as the functional floor plan, a sketch of the visual side of the space was created. It was based on a warm dark colour, as the investors had requested. That's what gave the flat its name: Black Amber. As Hanna Bajer and Paweł Sokół use only noble, natural materials in their design, they put together the colour palette the clients expected.
At the same time, all the rooms of the flat form a very coherent ensemble. This is due to the shared material base (with only subtle variations), but also to the very conscious attitude of the investors. They did not expect to display specific memorabilia, works of art or their favourite decorative elements, which can create a collection that is close to the heart but visually haphazard. Instead, they wanted a good, holistic and homogeneous set of interiors. That's why the effect achieved is so harmonious.
Hidden depth - entrance area
After crossing the flat door, we enter the narrow hallway, which immediately directs us to the open living area. However, it is worth stopping here for a moment, as the hallway conceals many functions that are important not only for the entrance area, but also for the entire house. In addition to a spacious wardrobe and a guest toilet, there is also a laundry room, a dog food storage room and a large switchboard for the KNX smart home system. Despite this wealth of functions, the only visible element in the hallway is still the console - for keys or handbag - complemented by a pouffe for easy shoe changing and a decorative lighting composition (Vibia).
At the same time, the hall announces the design solutions that define the character of the entire flat. The dark satin marble of the console mentioned above and another light grey marble on the floor are among the highlights. The wallpaper, which imitates a fabric with a very thick weave, is also a characteristic design element. In the following rooms (as in all BAJER SOKÓŁ team projects), there is also a return to the concealed secret door, which blends into the walls and is higher. They are all the more discreet because they have hidden vertical handles instead of handles.
Work and leisure - living space
Once you enter the living space, it is easy to see that the designers have a particular flair for creative play with colours, patterns and structures. This can be seen in the kitchen, for example, which, from the perspective of a bright living room, looks like an alcove immersed in dark colours. Here, the attention is drawn to a sculptural composition in brown marble. This is a lighted stone slab in a shallow niche above the worktop and a monolithic island of the same material. Dark chairs are used as details. This ensemble of solid materials is framed by textured wallpaper, which also covers the lower ceiling, with hidden installations for the sound system (Bang&Olufsen) and lighting, among other things.
The adjacent spaces contrast the very intimate kitchen. Huge glassed-in walls open onto the park, allowing you to enjoy being close to nature all year round - whatever the weather. Light colours dominate the living area's interior- from the floor to the sofa, armchairs, and semi-transparent curtains to emphasise the feeling of freedom and softness. This effect was enhanced by a few dark accents - decorative furniture and accessories such as very low coffee tables, lamps (Penta, Davide Groppi) or a representative hi-fi set (Bang&Olufsen).
The conservatory dining room, with its glass booth on the terrace, has its own character. There is also a colour theme: the reddish-brown natural leather upholstery of the chairs. For those with a keen eye, it complements the colour scheme of the other rooms. Also noteworthy in this part of the apartment is the translucent panel made of aluminium trusses. It appeared here to cover up an aesthetically mundane but essential air-conditioning unit.
The motif of the dense lattice returns in the sliding door leading to the study (Rimadesio). If required, this room can be connected to the living room or closed off to create an environment conducive to concentration. The interior's prestige is enhanced by a spectacular bio-fireplace assembled from a majestic marble slab. It is impossible to guess that the stone slabs conceal spacious filing cabinets. Books have their place in the open bookshelf (also Romadesio). Workspace is created by double tables (Maxalto) and comfortable armchairs (Poltrona Frau).
Our own worlds - the night part
The first room of this flat, facing the hallway, is the teenage son's area. It consists of a study and computer room connected to the bedroom, and a separate bathroom. To achieve a sense of minimalist order here too, the entire universe of shapes and colours associated with adolescence has disappeared into spacious wardrobes for clothes, books or games. This allows the only carefully chosen decorative element - the stylised moon motif in the mural - to shine through. The meticulously composed mini apartment has just a few freestanding pieces of furniture: a Molten bed, a Poltrona Frau recliner and a Vitra work chair.
Centrally located in the night area of the apartment is another open space - the bedroom, with a very spacious transitional dressing room (Poliform) and a spacious bathroom. Visually, the master zone is linked to the design of the study. Here you'll find the same materials, sliding doors, light fittings (Flos) and desks (Baxter), all in a cosy setting of soft carpets and curtains. Meanwhile, the decorative marble panel we saw in the kitchen appeared on the wall behind the bed.
The design of the master bedroom dressing room had unique requirements. Although it is inherently devoid of natural light, it could not be dark. On the other hand - although it contains a rich and varied collection of clothes, accessories and shoes - it had to be well structured, as a corridor from the bedroom to the bathroom runs through it. That's why it was fitted with mirror frames, which give a sense of order and space, but also have a practical function - they help with outfit selection.
From the entrance to the master bathroom, attention is drawn to the walls covered with grooved tiles (Salvatori), which are also present in the other two bathrooms of the suite. The bathroom ceramics, designed by Antonio Lupi with fittings by Gessi, also provide a practical and beautiful environment for body care. A Bang&Olufsen sound system creates a great atmosphere from the morning.
A similar aesthetic, albeit on a micro scale, appears in the guest toilet. It is entered from the hall, through a discreet door covered with the same wallpaper as the wall. The small space has only one expressive accent. It is a freestanding marble washbasin (Alape). Its thoughtful, minimalist form combined with the quality of the material is a true monument to the style that the investors wanted for their home.
A 160-square-metre shell dwelling has been converted into a comfortable living space for a couple with their son and the family pet - a large dog. Although very practical, it has a sophisticated form and an exceptionally coherent design. The key to success was the mutual understanding between the investors and the designers.
They were ideal clients. Why? Usually, clients outline their expectations in pretty general terms, but then change the concepts put forward by the architects several times later. As a result, the design process becomes protracted. In this case, things were different - the clients expressed their needs very precisely in the initial discussions. They were well prepared for the discussions, carefully analysing their requirements regarding usability issues and gathering stylistic inspirations close to their hearts.
It was also a well-considered decision to entrust the project to the BAJER SOKÓŁ team. The clients knew they were getting a project with a sophisticated aesthetic. One in which all the technical elements and regular fixtures are hidden so that nothing distracts from the interior composition. The investors' self-awareness and careful and accurate communication enabled the basis for planning to be prepared in the first meetings.
Day house, night house - functional layout
The interiors shown in the photos are the home of a couple with a teenage son. The family also includes a large dog. As the 160 m2 apartment is an elongated rectangle with the entrance almost halfway along its length, the architects of BAJER SOKÓŁŁ proposed an evident space division. To the right of the main entrance is the living area - a kind of open space that combines a living room, kitchen and dining area with the landlord's study. On the left side is the night area - which includes the master area (master bedroom with integrated bathroom and dressing room) and the son's room.
As quickly as the functional floor plan, a sketch of the visual side of the space was created. It was based on a warm dark colour, as the investors had requested. That's what gave the flat its name: Black Amber. As Hanna Bajer and Paweł Sokół use only noble, natural materials in their design, they put together the colour palette the clients expected.
At the same time, all the rooms of the flat form a very coherent ensemble. This is due to the shared material base (with only subtle variations), but also to the very conscious attitude of the investors. They did not expect to display specific memorabilia, works of art or their favourite decorative elements, which can create a collection that is close to the heart but visually haphazard. Instead, they wanted a good, holistic and homogeneous set of interiors. That's why the effect achieved is so harmonious.
Hidden depth - entrance area
After crossing the flat door, we enter the narrow hallway, which immediately directs us to the open living area. However, it is worth stopping here for a moment, as the hallway conceals many functions that are important not only for the entrance area, but also for the entire house. In addition to a spacious wardrobe and a guest toilet, there is also a laundry room, a dog food storage room and a large switchboard for the KNX smart home system. Despite this wealth of functions, the only visible element in the hallway is still the console - for keys or handbag - complemented by a pouffe for easy shoe changing and a decorative lighting composition (Vibia).
At the same time, the hall announces the design solutions that define the character of the entire flat. The dark satin marble of the console mentioned above and another light grey marble on the floor are among the highlights. The wallpaper, which imitates a fabric with a very thick weave, is also a characteristic design element. In the following rooms (as in all BAJER SOKÓŁ team projects), there is also a return to the concealed secret door, which blends into the walls and is higher. They are all the more discreet because they have hidden vertical handles instead of handles.
Work and leisure - living space
Once you enter the living space, it is easy to see that the designers have a particular flair for creative play with colours, patterns and structures. This can be seen in the kitchen, for example, which, from the perspective of a bright living room, looks like an alcove immersed in dark colours. Here, the attention is drawn to a sculptural composition in brown marble. This is a lighted stone slab in a shallow niche above the worktop and a monolithic island of the same material. Dark chairs are used as details. This ensemble of solid materials is framed by textured wallpaper, which also covers the lower ceiling, with hidden installations for the sound system (Bang&Olufsen) and lighting, among other things.
The adjacent spaces contrast the very intimate kitchen. Huge glassed-in walls open onto the park, allowing you to enjoy being close to nature all year round - whatever the weather. Light colours dominate the living area's interior- from the floor to the sofa, armchairs, and semi-transparent curtains to emphasise the feeling of freedom and softness. This effect was enhanced by a few dark accents - decorative furniture and accessories such as very low coffee tables, lamps (Penta, Davide Groppi) or a representative hi-fi set (Bang&Olufsen).
The conservatory dining room, with its glass booth on the terrace, has its own character. There is also a colour theme: the reddish-brown natural leather upholstery of the chairs. For those with a keen eye, it complements the colour scheme of the other rooms. Also noteworthy in this part of the apartment is the translucent panel made of aluminium trusses. It appeared here to cover up an aesthetically mundane but essential air-conditioning unit.
The motif of the dense lattice returns in the sliding door leading to the study (Rimadesio). If required, this room can be connected to the living room or closed off to create an environment conducive to concentration. The interior's prestige is enhanced by a spectacular bio-fireplace assembled from a majestic marble slab. It is impossible to guess that the stone slabs conceal spacious filing cabinets. Books have their place in the open bookshelf (also Romadesio). Workspace is created by double tables (Maxalto) and comfortable armchairs (Poltrona Frau).
Our own worlds - the night part
The first room of this flat, facing the hallway, is the teenage son's area. It consists of a study and computer room connected to the bedroom, and a separate bathroom. To achieve a sense of minimalist order here too, the entire universe of shapes and colours associated with adolescence has disappeared into spacious wardrobes for clothes, books or games. This allows the only carefully chosen decorative element - the stylised moon motif in the mural - to shine through. The meticulously composed mini apartment has just a few freestanding pieces of furniture: a Molten bed, a Poltrona Frau recliner and a Vitra work chair.
Centrally located in the night area of the apartment is another open space - the bedroom, with a very spacious transitional dressing room (Poliform) and a spacious bathroom. Visually, the master zone is linked to the design of the study. Here you'll find the same materials, sliding doors, light fittings (Flos) and desks (Baxter), all in a cosy setting of soft carpets and curtains. Meanwhile, the decorative marble panel we saw in the kitchen appeared on the wall behind the bed.
The design of the master bedroom dressing room had unique requirements. Although it is inherently devoid of natural light, it could not be dark. On the other hand - although it contains a rich and varied collection of clothes, accessories and shoes - it had to be well structured, as a corridor from the bedroom to the bathroom runs through it. That's why it was fitted with mirror frames, which give a sense of order and space, but also have a practical function - they help with outfit selection.
From the entrance to the master bathroom, attention is drawn to the walls covered with grooved tiles (Salvatori), which are also present in the other two bathrooms of the suite. The bathroom ceramics, designed by Antonio Lupi with fittings by Gessi, also provide a practical and beautiful environment for body care. A Bang&Olufsen sound system creates a great atmosphere from the morning.
A similar aesthetic, albeit on a micro scale, appears in the guest toilet. It is entered from the hall, through a discreet door covered with the same wallpaper as the wall. The small space has only one expressive accent. It is a freestanding marble washbasin (Alape). Its thoughtful, minimalist form combined with the quality of the material is a true monument to the style that the investors wanted for their home.
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