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M8, a second life for a the pre-war modernist building

Pawel Lis

Renovation  /  Completed
Pawel Lis

The house was placed on two sides in border. Its facade pretended to be a neo-classical 19th century facade. In a semi-detached development with a neighboring building maintained in a completely different character, it was an extremely ill-fitting pair. The whole was not an example of architecture worth preserving for future generations. Looking at the building from before the reconstruction, one can see that it does not keep proportions, does not fit into the development landscape in which it stands. The house was too small and had an internal wall arrangement that did not allow it to function properly. The building should have referred to the times when great Polish modernists such as Stanislaw and Barbara Brukalscy and Juliusz Zurawski carried out their projects in Old Żoliborz.

The building refers to the modernist pre-war development of the neighborhood in which it stands. It fits in with the proportions of the neighboring building. The house was placed on two sides in border. Its facade pretended to be a neo-classical 19th century facade. In a semi-detached development with a neighboring building maintained in a completely different character, it was an extremely ill-fitting pair.

The house has class "A" OZE certified. Class A (very low energy) - means a building with very high energy efficiency, which is often equipped with renewable energy systems (e.g., solar panels, heat pumps). Energy classes, ranging from A+ to G, are awarded based on annual demand for non-renewable primary energy. The lower the energy consumption, the higher the energy class of the building. Our project won the award "One of the most beautiful houses in Poland 2023" - award granted by industry portal "WHITE MAD"

The M8, after redevelopment, has gained a second life and an adequate appearance for the place in which it is located. It refers to the pre-war modernist buildings of Old Żoliborz - a unique district of Warsaw where there are pre-war modernist buildings under the protection of the conservator. The house has been radically rebuilt, preserving the original outline, exterior walls. and roofing. This required specialized structural solutions. Changing the location of the staircase made it possible to better plan the functions and enlarge the interior of the house. The construction of the intercalated staircase can be seen through vertical glazing two stories high. The elevated first floor features a living room with a dining room, an open kitchen and a study. From the front and garden, the facade has been heavily glazed. This makes the greenery look into the house. On the first floor, two rooms and a bathroom have been located, with access to a terrace on the first floor roof. On the garden side of the basement, after lowering the floor level, it was possible to additionally place a bedroom with a large bathroom and a dressing room. Good lighting is provided by sliding HS-type windows, which additionally allow the bedroom to exit directly to the intimate terrace below the ground level.

The house has changed beyond recognition. It is larger and meets all the requirements of a modern house for a family of 4. It is equipped with new AOZE installations , has a new layout of functions and the contemporary look we were expecting.

Credits

 Warsaw
 Polonia
 Confidential
 07/2022
 280 m2
 Confidential
 Pawel Lis
 Mariusz Krystoń
 Radek Gałczyński

Curriculum

The house was built in the 1970s. It was sited on two sides on the border. Its facade pretended to be a neo-classical 19th-century facade. In a semi-detached development with a neighboring building maintained in a completely different character, it was an extremely mismatched pair.
We decided that the whole thing was not an example of architecture worth preserving for future generations. We had an irresistible impression that the building itself would like to change its appearance. It would like to straighten up, not pretend anything, and look appropriate to the times in which redevelopment found it. It was not easy to convince the conservation officers to accept our idea. At last, the project received conservation recommendations and after many adventures it was realized.
The existing house was radically remodeled. The M8 has been given a second life and a unique look - just like the place where it is located.

https://pawellis.pl/m8-przebud...


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