From Dormitory to Dream Home: The Transformation of Birch House

Birch House, originally a modest building built in the 1930s, was originally built as a dormitory for high school students. The new owners have known the building since childhood and it has always been part of the community's landscape. Although they acquired the building as their primary residence several years ago, they only recently commissioned Paradowski Studio to renovate it.

"When we first visited in 2019, it wasn't in ideal condition," recalls designer Zuza Paradowski and architect Piotr Paradowski. Apart from the building itself, there are hardly any original elements from which to draw. They therefore focused their research on the characteristics of Polish architecture in the 1930s.

Due to the need to transform the building into a 450 SQM residential villa spread over three floors, the design team decided to adjust the layout of the building. To reduce the overall size, they removed the central part of the rear facade, giving the building a U-shaped structure to make room for a large terrace. In addition, the staircase, which was originally located on the side, was moved to the center of the house, making it the soul and heart of the entire space, and its presence can be seen in every room.

One of the central challenges of the renovation was the staircase and its guardrail, explained the designers: "The key was to find the right craftsmen to build it as we envisioned it." Another major challenge was the complexity of the construction itself - the entire project included both interior and exterior renovations, from the fence, the main entrance, the facade to the banisters, everything had to be customised. To ensure the integrity of the design and construction, they chose a no-rush approach, taking four years from design to completion to complete every detail.

The interior space was completely created from scratch, with only the original Windows preserved and restored and given a distinctive verdigris hue. A balance of modern and historical elements is displayed throughout the interior, with natural materials (such as wood and stone) and custom-designed furniture creating a warm and sophisticated atmosphere.

Inspired by the Polish architectural heritage of the 1930s, the design respects the building's history while meeting the needs of a modern lifestyle. The interior tones are soft, dominated by earth colors and low saturation pastel tones, with natural light to make the space more harmonious and peaceful.

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