Luxury Warsaw apartments combine history with modernity

The most luxurious properties in the world all have certain characteristics: a prestigious location in the city center, original architecture, an interesting history, the highest interior design standards and modern technological solutions. The two historic tenements at 13/15 Foksal Street in Warsaw, Poland meet all these conditions. Built in the late 19th century, the tenements are now being revitalized by Ghelamco. The developer aims to bring them back to their former glory and will soon offer 55 upscale apartments, ranging from 47 to 260 square meters. Future tenants will be able to move in the second half of 2019.

Foksal is an address of aristocratic descent. In 1746 it was an elite city park, where the Polish nobility, including King Stanisław August Poniatowski and his court, attended concerts, balls and performances. It was modeled on London’s Vauxhall, but the locals called it “Foxhall,” from which the Polish name derives.

The two tenements, at numbers 13 and 15, were constructed in 1895 and 1898. They became home to many wealthy and influential people, including upper-class townsmen, rich factory owners and politicians. Foksal is now one of the most prestigious addresses in Warsaw, surrounded by the most important cultural institutions and within walking distance from prestigious boutiques and the capital’s finest restaurants.

In the 1930s, the tenement at Foksal 13 was owned by Jan Wedel, the famous Polish entrepreneur and “King of Chocolate,” who commissioned its redevelopment in the style of Modernism. One of the most impressive amenities he added was the panoramic elevator in the courtyard, which Ghelamco intends to keep. The restoration project was consulted with many distinguished experts and supervised by the Capital City Building Conservation Officer.

Foksal is now one of the most prestigious addresses in Warsaw, surrounded by the most important cultural institutions and within walking distance from luxurious boutiques and the capital’s finest restaurants.

The two buildings will be linked by internal courtyards, one of them, at Foksal 15, will have a glass roof, which will form a comfortable patio with a reception desk and a meeting zone. Both tenements miraculously survived World War II, which allowed many authentic details from the Belle Époque to be saved, such as the staircases with white marble floors and hand-forged balustrades. The eclectic stairwell also features frescos with neo-baroque motifs.

The interiors are no less impressive. The ceilings are more than four meters high, while the wooden floors display nearly 20 patterns, fashionable at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The developer entrusted the interiors to Eric Kuster, a world-renowned interior designer who works under his own brand, Metropolitan Luxury. The Dutch designer’s portfolio includes prestigious projects for celebrities like Alicia Keys, Kelis, David Guetta, Zinedine Zidane, Robin van Persie to name a few.

The finishing is made of top-quality natural materials such as marble, exotic wood, metal and velvet. Mr. Kuster also designed luxurious amenities, including a spa zone and spacious top-floor terraces with a cocktail area and views of the city center.

The buildings will have an underground parking lot and a top-quality concierge service. They will also provide a rather rare service, offering their tenants guest rooms, where they can host relatives and friends in comfortable conditions.