Originally, an austere building from the 1930s erected to accommodate a dormitory for high school students. Its new owners have known it since their childhood, it has always been part of the landscape in the neighbourhood. Although they acquired the large building a few years ago to make it their main residence, they waited several more years before entrusting the renovation to the Paradowski Studio agency. “When we visited it for the first time in 2019, it was not in its best condition,” confide designer Zuza Paradowski and architect Piotr Paradowski. There wasn’t much left to draw inspiration from other than the building itself. We therefore focused our research on the characteristics of Polish architecture of the 1930s.” Since it was a question of designing a residential villa with an area of ​​450 square meters spread over three floors, the couple decided to modify the layout of the building. To reduce its surface area, they sacrificed the central part of its rear facade, thus creating a U-shaped plan which frees up space for a large terrace. Likewise, the staircase is moved from its original side position towards the center of the house. It becomes the soul and the heart, visible from each room.

If technically, the staircase and its guardrail constitute the great challenge of this renovation

“It was a matter of finding the right craftsmen to carry it out as we had imagined it” – the scope of the work will be the other big challenge. “We decided not to rush the design and construction stages. As this was a large-scale job, covering the exterior as well as the interior, it took more than four years to complete it down to the smallest detail. From the fence to the front door, from the facade to the handrail, everything was made to measure.

Inside, we start from scratch, the only elements preserved are the original windows, restored in an interesting verdigris tone. We produce a large number of models and samples for as many wall finishes or pieces of integrated furniture and, again, in order to obtain all the desired effects, with a large number of tests. “We wanted to create the atmosphere as close as possible to the time the building was constructed.

For this, it was decided to manufacture as much as possible locally, in an artisanal manner and from natural materials. Concerning the color of the walls, Paradowski Studio favors one or two simple tones to add the touches of brightness brought by the architectural themselves – arches, staircase – as well as by the textures and materials. A clean base suitable for welcoming

more elaborate additions through numerous veneers, mostly in reference to the 1930s, or others, more surprising, in ziricote, this dark and intense precious wood. The multiple custom-made carpentry elements are brushed then lacquered by hand, from the island and low storage units in the kitchen to the vanity units in the bathrooms, in reference to ancient carpentry techniques inspired by local craftsmanship or design in progress in the 1930s in Poland. From the vast entrance hall to the staircase and arches, everything comes together in a very natural way, as if everything had always been there. Everything fits together in this spacious but warm and welcoming space. A space far from being intimidating, full of elegance, but also very relaxed and serene.

Published in AD France / January 2024

Text for AD France Nicolas Milon

Photography by Ludovic Balay