Podskale Apartment by Noplusp

Polish design studio Noplusp has renovated the Podskale apartment in Krakow, Poland, using arched openings and organic forms to create a subtle and tranquil atmosphere.

Completed in 2024, the studio made the most of the existing angular lines of the space, working with the existing walls and shafts by encasing them in an organic form so that they became “the greatest asset” of the apartment.

“The irregular course of the walls became the keynote of the entire project,” Noplusp founder Dominika Pajdzinska mentioned.

“The wall offsets were encased in a new, organic form of arches built in a dry construction system.”

“Elements that initially embarrassed the space have been turned into its greatest asset.”

The apartment consists of only a living area, a bathroom, a bedroom and a terrace. While the social space is integrated and open plan, the bedroom and bathroom are enclosed to form more secluded and private spaces.

The calm and intricate nature of these forms is juxtaposed with carefully selected raw and natural materials, such as clay, oak and stone.

“The subtle contrast of intricate forms is softened by a palette of natural materials,” said Pajdzinska.

“Raw clay, dark oak, steel with a metallic shine and stone, which, like a sculpture, resists time, creating an interior free from fleeting trends.”

As the clients have an intense lifestyle based on “working in several time zones,” the apartment is designed to offer them a break from their busy lives.

“Pajdzinska hinted at how the material choice answered to this need for calmness, aiming to create an atmosphere that is both peaceful and natural.”

“The severity of textures, the warmth of earthy shades and their subtle imperfections create an atmosphere that brings the client closer to the experience of closeness to nature.”

“A sense of peace and harmony,” she continued.

In addition to privacy, the bedroom and bathroom offered a dedicated workspace in the form of a steel desk fitted into the surrounding structure with a subtle, minimalist approach.

“A steel desk, like a sculpture, fits into the space, offering a minimalist, but extremely necessary work space nowadays,” Pajdzinska added.

The driving concept for the finishes was continuity, for which materiality played a huge role. Although the project features several stone and timber pieces of furniture, the bathrooms headlined the stone details. 

“The boldness of the shower form is combined with the elegance of Breccia Sarda marble and the earthy colours of the stone floor,” Pajdzinska said. 

“Natural light gently strokes the rounded edges of the rounded forms of the shower and washbasin, creating an image in the mirror that gives the bathroom interior an almost painterly atmosphere.”

“The room we return to with the greatest satisfaction is the bathroom.”

The bathroom vanity countertop and shower structure was composed of a lightly coloured marble with warm hues, contrasting bold and stark veins. The same material is found across the space connected through strategically placed mirrors.

As for the social spaces, Noplusp pushed for a mindful approach when integrating a kitchenette. The studio used carpentry as a way of integrating the program across the kitchen, living and dining.

“The resting, eating and cooking areas interpenetrate each other through the common carpentry buildings winding along the walls,” she said.

Noplusp pushed towards a cohesive and smooth design that showcased the owners’ taste – creating a space meant for hosting.

“The apartment is also intended to serve as a showpiece for the owners’ taste during private meetings organized by them in the privacy of their home.”

The studio is known for its cohesive and poetic proposals, which was certainly the case for the Podskale.

“Elements that initially embarrassed the space have been turned into its greatest asset, Pajdzinska concluded.”

“The subtle contrast of intricate forms is softened by a palette of natural materials: raw clay, dark oak, steel with a metallic shine and stone, which, like a sculpture, resists time, creating an interior free from fleeting trends.”