What does Warsaw’s Sadyba district have to offer? A charming garden city, a lake, a nature reserve, beautiful villas, extensive infrastructure, excellent (nay, the best!) schools, and… an experimental colony of atrial houses.
Warsaw’s atrial houses can be found on Orężna Street, between Zdrojowa, Jedlińska, and Zelwerowicza Streets. This colony was built at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s and was developed by the SBM “Współzawodnictwo pracy” cooperative, and made for a group of employees from the Department of Urban Design at the Institute of Spatial Planning, Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology. In total, twelve terraced houses were nestled in greenery, creating a unique project in the capital.
What are atrial houses?
While some of us dream of large swimming pools and gated, guarded communities, here – in Warsaw’s Sadyba – we encounter something completely different. A few inconspicuous, snow-white, single-story houses with an exceptionally ascetic form. The real surprise, however, awaits you once you cross the threshold – an internal garden, or atrium, hidden from the world – an architectural solution dating back to antiquity. These houses were built “around a garden,” which forms their central axis.
The entire colony consists of a series of interconnected L-shaped buildings, ranging in size from 105 to 112 square meters. It is an example of introverted architecture, closed from the outside and turned inward. The colony implements this concept by using smaller windows on the main street side, focusing on exposing the rooms to light from the inside, with the living room facing inward, directly onto the atrium.
The houses have a perimeter layout, where the living spaces (living room, kitchen, bedrooms) surround the atrium on three or four sides, creating a closed circulation ring. This makes atrium homes an ideal solution for those who value privacy and want to create their own unique microclimate.
A minimalist form in the heart of Warsaw’s Sadyba district
This green heart of the house, the atrium, allows you to instantly calm your mind, achieve a coveted state of zen, and breathe deeply. This architectural solution, rarely popular in Poland, creates something unique – a living tableau, shimmering with the colors of the seasons. It allows you to invite nature directly into your home, opening yourself up to the changing rhythms of the year. This is where Italian nonchalance and a pure love of life meet the influences of pared-back Scandinavian modernism.
This unique marriage is the quintessence of an architectural experiment designed by Donat Putkowski, Hanna Adamczewska, Grzegorz Chodkowski, Krystyna Mikucka-Jagiełło, and Kazimierz Wejchert. Today, the estate is listed in the municipal register of historical monuments.
The Experimental Architects’ Estate was a fascinating summary of the realities of the 1970s. On the one hand, the ubiquitous lack of everything was a challenge – in this case, a smaller-than-expected plot designated for single-family housing, intended for employees of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology. However, thanks to the extraordinary initiative of Warsaw architects, they managed to create something that is admired to this day.
The design was so unusual at the time. Neighbors were convinced that the estate was to be replaced by… a monastery or a stable! Time has shown that this architectural experiment is not just a textbook example of how to perfectly develop a demanding lot. Above all, it demonstrates how to create architecture that is completely ageless, increasing in value, and, despite changing trends, consistently maintains the highest standard.
Today, atrium houses in Warsaw’s Sadyba district await their new beginnings. At Partners International, we offer exceptional properties for our clients. And one of the atrium houses located on Jedlińska Street is waiting for its new owners. We invite you to its presentation! Contact us for more details.
Offer number: 722285
Author: Agnieszka Szczerkowska, Real Estate Advisor, Partners International