In Bydgoszcz, Poland, a riverside apartment becomes a sanctuary where the spirit of flight meets the comforts of home. Inspired by their clients’ love of gliding, designers Jakub Żurawicki and Joanna Kubiak shaped an airy, light-filled space that balances work, rest, and passion in perfect harmony.

In the heart of Bydgoszcz, Poland, an apartment perched on the Brda River became the home of two young professionals. Active enthusiasts of travelling, gliding and the great outdoors, the pair bought the designed apartment to gain more than just a place to call home but a sanctuary to pause, recharge, and find the balance between constant movement, work life, rest and rejuvenation.

Interior designers Jakun Źurawicki and Joanna Kubiak were tasked with tailoring the apartment to every facet of the owner’s life, from work and studying, to spending quality time with loved ones, in turn creating a multifunctional open plan living area. The pair developed a concept rooted in the client’s passion for the sky, with their main hobby being open-air gliding. Rather than resorting to literal motifs to express the concept, the designers introduced subtle gestures of lightness and flight in the form of soft cloud-like fabrics, airy blue palettes, and above all, a considered lighting scheme that ties all the elements together.

Źurawicki and Kubiak were hired through a recommendation from previous clients. The first objective was clear: to create an interior that would reflect their love for flying, while also functioning as a flexible home base. The first step of the project meant expanding the zone of the apartment to achieve an open living area. Ultimately leading to the elimination of a whole room by removing a wall to create the multifunctional space the owner’s desired. However, the space is still defined by a kitchen, a dining area, and a lounge, but is instead defined subtly through furniture arrangement, a shelving unit as a divider and zoned lighting rather than a large physical partition.

Lighting played a crucial role in defining the zones and creating balance between the narrative of sky travel and creating a calming sanctuary. Flos architectural fixtures provide a calm, neutral base of illumination, while decorative lamps bring character, colour, and references to flight. This layered approach allowed the designers to inject the poetic resemblance of the sky without overwhelming the space, adding what the designers would call “the jewels of the décor”. The collaboration with the Flos Poland team was instrumental in achieving this harmony. Their expertise ensured the architectural lighting scheme was both technically precise and discreet, allowing the decorative layer to take centre stage.

Throughout, the sky became a guiding metaphor. Wisps of clouds are suggested in the round, organic shapes of the furniture and lighting fittings, while shifting tones appear in the palette of whites, beiges, browns and blues, contrasted with bold accents of burgundy, navy and cobalt. In nine months, the pair developed an interior that feels both expansive and cocooning, providing an atmosphere that is shaped as much by light as it is by materials and form.

“In the early stages of the project, we dedicated a lot of time to carefully developing a functional layout that would fully meet the needs of the residents,” says Źurawicki. “As a result, we did not make any changes to the agreed-upon concept in the later stages of the project.”

The overall concept of the sky and lightness came to no exception when selecting the decorative lighting and was in fact a key player in defining the overarching narrative of nature. Delicate, lightweight lamps with soft or spherical shapes in white or muted blue subtly expressed the sky theme. One standout feature was the Halo Edition lamp by Mandalaki Studio, which imitated the northern lights.

To support this poetic layer, architectural lighting was kept deliberately understated. Flos fixtures provide a discreet, high-quality base of even illumination, their hidden LEDs casting soft, non-glare light. “The architectural lighting forms a neutral foundation,” adds Żurawicki. “It allowed the decorative lamps to become the real jewellery of the interior.”

Together, the two systems work in harmony: architectural lighting ensures clarity and comfort, while decorative elements create mood, mark out zones within the open-plan space, and embody the theme of flight through form and atmosphere. The result is a scheme that is at once functional and deeply expressive – translating the sky into light.

Kubiak comments: “We paid particular attention to the design of the decorative lighting. We aimed to create soft, diffused light that would enhance the atmosphere while also helping to define distinct zones within the open-plan space. The careful selection of lighting allowed us to subtly separate yet visually connect the dining, lounge, and home office areas.”

The decorative lighting elements in this project were selected with two equal priorities: technical quality and atmospheric effect. A variety of pendants, floor lamps, table lamps, and accent LED lighting were chosen based on their colour temperature, light quality, and function relative to the layout, while aligning with the overall sky travel concept. A mix of Scandinavian classics and Polish designer pieces were incorporated, adding both international appeal and local character to the scheme. Statement pieces such as the New Works Tense pendant hang elegantly over the dining area with a cloud-like presence, creating a sense of suspension and weightlessness to the design. Meanwhile, &Tradition’s Flowerpot series in cobalt and stone blue echoes the sky palette, while introducing a retro flair in shape, complemented by a Muuto Leaf floor lamp in copper that not only enhances the retro aesthetic but offers gentle, adjustable task lighting for reading or work. The comprehensive lighting scheme includes fixtures from Flos, Halo Edition, &Tradition, New Works, Muuto, Wästberg, Labra, Artera, Chors, and Westwing. Together, this well-balanced mix enables the interior to transition seamlessly between moods – from soft, atmospheric glow in the lounge to brighter, more focused illumination in the kitchen and work areas.

“For us, lighting is always a priority,” says Kubiak. “It not only defines zones and creates distinct scenes but also translates the main theme of the interior – in this case, the clients’ passion for flight – into something tangible. It becomes the jewellery of the space, highlighting textures, colours, and details.”

The effects of the interior feel both calm and energised. Diffused glows of warmth to the lounge alongside the vibrant hues of the Halo Edition lamp introduce a vibrancy and an element of surprise. The lighting also directly influences the well-being of the occupants, thanks to the carefully selected high-quality fixtures, and close attention to colour temperature and diffusion ensures comfort in its daily use, from focused work to relaxation.

“What truly surprised us in person was how beautifully the materials and lighting came together – even better than we had anticipated. They gained richness in colour, depth, and energy, while at the same time the space offered a sense of calm and balance to those experiencing it,” says Żurawicki.

What makes the project exceptional, and the designers agree, is the collaboration with clients, who were receptive to bold material choices and the seamless integration of Polish and international design pieces. The apartment feels timeless, energetic, and calm all at once, and the clients’ needs, personalities and passions are perfectly met without having to compromise on their original vision. By translating a love of flight into architectural and decorative lighting, furniture, and finishes, the designers created a space that is more than a home: it is a sanctuary, a stage for life in motion, and a story told in light.

As Kubiak notes: “The project is a story about the people living in it – their passions, their habits, their way of experiencing the world. This apartment is exactly that story, expressed through materials, forms, and most importantly, light.”

www.zurawickidesign.pl

Interior Design: Zurawicki Design
Architectural Light: Flos Poland
Lighting Specified: Artera, &Tradition, Chors,  Flos, Labra, Mandalaki Studio, Muuto, New Works, Wästberg, Westwing
Images: kroniki