Zaułek Piękna in Warsaw is entering a new chapter in its history. Syrena Real Estate is planning a comprehensive modernisation of the property, which will result in an improvement in the standard and functionality of the building, opening up its lower floors to the city, and giving it a new name – Elma. Medusa Group is responsible for the architectural concept behind the changes, whilst the Reesco Group is in charge of carrying out the modernisation. The work will be carried out in two phases – the first will begin in early 2027 and last several months, whilst the second is scheduled for the first to third quarters of 2028.
The transformation currently being planned will involve both changing the building’s relationship with the surrounding urban space and a comprehensive upgrade of the entire property. The company already holds a building permit. The most visible change will be the building’s new openness towards the city. According to the concept drawn up by Medusa Group, the two lower storeys will be refurbished and will feature a new façade with shop windows nearly 6 metres high. The retail and service space will increase from the current approximately 700 sqm to 1,300 sqm, creating an offering for brands seeking prestigious high-street locations in the centre of Warsaw. The new ground-floor design will make the most of the building’s corner location and its exposure to three streets, whilst integrating the interior of the property more closely with the surrounding urban space. The entrance area to the office section will also be transformed – the building will gain a new, prestigious lobby.
“Piękna 18 has everything we look for in our projects: a superb location, a functioning building and untapped potential. We do not want to create a new space here from scratch, but to extract much more from the existing property. On the one hand, we are raising the standard of the office section and the quality of the everyday experience for its users; on the other, we are completely transforming the building’s relationship with the street. The new name – Elma – will also symbolise this transformation. It reflects the history of this place, whilst at the same time opening a new chapter and giving the building its own distinctive identity. We want Elma to become an active part of South City Centre and a destination associated with both a high-quality workplace and an exceptional retail offering,” says Witold Zatoński Kotomski, founder of Syrena Real Estate.
Medusa Group’s design involves utilising the building’s existing structure and transforming the previously recessed plinth into a transparent, two-storey space that opens the building up to the street. The new façade will consist of tall glazed sections set within prefabricated concrete frames. The distinctive geometry and offset planes will give the lower storeys a more expressive, sculptural character.
“The building at 18 Piękna Street is situated in a location with a very strong architectural identity, which is why we were keen to find a contemporary architectural language that would engage in dialogue with its surroundings. Our point of reference was the architecture and detailing characteristic of this part of Warsaw, which we are reinterpreting through the geometry of the designed façade elements. We want to create a sort of architectural passe-partout – a frame for the life taking place inside the building and on the surrounding streets. The new façade is not intended to be merely an aesthetic change. It is meant to make the building more open, transparent and present within the urban fabric,” says Przemo Łukasik, architect and co-founder of Medusa Group.
