DESIGN : mode:lina™ / ww.modelina-architekci.com
DESIGN TEAM Kinga Kin, Paweł Garus, Jerzy Woźniak
A bright, warm interior made of natural materials becomes a backdrop for an art collection and favourite design classics. Architects from mode:lina™ redesigned the interiors of a 2010 house in Poznań’s Podolany district. The envelope did not require changes, so the team focused on a new functional layout, a coherent material palette and everyday comfort. “We wanted a home where art is a natural part of the day, not just decoration,” say the owners.
The ground floor is organised by floor-to-ceiling oak panelling. Existing doors and storage fronts are concealed within the same cladding, so the hall flows into the living area and kitchen, forming a unified timber volume.
To articulate the mass, the fronts of the built-in sideboard are finished with fluted glass. Materials mark functional boundaries. Lacquered oak floors appear in dry zones, while large-format tiles are used in work areas and at the entrance.
The kitchen works like a quiet studio. Stone worktops are durable and pleasant to the touch, while oak fronts and open shelves warm the space.
Large windows light the counter and the table. In the evening, the atmosphere is set by spot fixtures and decorative lamps. “We love the morning light that travels through the kitchen and catches on the fluted glass,” the owners add.
A neutral palette lets the collection take the lead. Against white, oak and stone, the household’s sculptures and graphics stand out. Design classics complete the picture: Vitra Eames chairs at the table, Louis Poulsen lamps above, a Muuto sofa and Artemide wall lights in the living room, and a USM modular cabinet in the hall. “A neutral backdrop gives us the freedom to change displays without a full rework of the interior,” says Kinga Kin, the project’s author.
The private zone occupies the upper floor. The bedroom connects to a make-up area and a small work nook. As on the ground floor, secondary functions are grouped in a timber volume, separated from the rest by a fluted-glass screen. The material provides privacy without blocking light. Behind the bedroom lies a wardrobe with glass fronts and black joinery, centred around a comfortable bench. Next door is the owners’ bathroom, where stone sets the tone. It forms the counter and tall splashback behind the basins, as well as the shower wall. The remaining surfaces use small matte tiles, with an oak vanity below the basins.
The designers put it simply: “We created a backdrop. Oak, stone and light were enough for the collection and daily life to speak.”
The plan is simple and clear. The ground floor contains an entrance with a vestibule, a guest bathroom, the living room and a kitchen with dining that opens to the garden. The upper floor includes the main bedroom with wardrobe and bathroom, a compact children’s bathroom, a gym and a study. Storage is integrated into the walls, keeping the spaces ordered and light.