SAR is a minimalist residence by the Kraków-based design studio, Oskar Firek Architects. Located in the Polish capital’s Powiśle district near the Vistula River and historic parks, the 150 square meter (1,615 square foot) apartment was designed for a young family and includes a primary suite with a walk-in closet and bathroom, as well as a second bedroom, guest bathroom, powder room, pantry, and living area. Here, natural materials, custom furnishings, and a considered collection of art and design pieces shape a home that feels at once personal and connected to the surrounding greenery just outside. 

Inside, the living area opens toward the adjacent park, thanks to large windows that frame the nearby trees while also bringing in natural light to the space. Sheer curtains also provide privacy while allowing soft daylight to filter through, further connecting the interior to its natural setting. Throughout the apartment, a muted palette of taupe, off-white, and dark brown creates an understated backdrop for the family’s collection of furniture and art. Brown-stained oak, stone, and sand-textured wall finishes introduce subtle variations in texture, while the natural grain of wood and the expressive veining of marble bring depth to an otherwise restrained palette.

Many of the apartment’s furnishings were custom-designed by Oskar Firek Architects, including an entrance console with integrated seating, a steel Brutalist sideboard, coffee and dining tables, and a bedroom desk. These bespoke elements sit alongside a selection of contemporary and vintage design, including a Henge pendant above the dining table, Gubi chairs, an Audo Copenhagen armchair, and a 1970s Slovak Brutalist armchair. Art also introduces another layer to the interiors, reflecting the studio’s longstanding connection to creative practice: sculptures, paintings, and ceramic objects appear throughout the residence, including works by Paweł Jach, Tomek Opaliński, Wojciech Firek, Grzegorz Worpus, and Marina Arias. 

With the SAR Apartment, Oskar Firek Architects brings together its interests in art, natural materials, refined forms, and functional planning to create a highly individualized interior where architecture, furniture, and art are considered as parts of a cohesive whole.