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Interior Design for Premium Residential Common Areas
Wolski Studio provides residential common area interior design for high-end apartment buildings and premium residential developments. The scope may include lobbies, reception and concierge areas, entrance and lift halls, corridors, staircases and other prominent shared spaces used by residents and their guests.
Common areas are the first interiors people encounter when entering a building. They influence the perception of the entire development, establish its character and shape the residents’ everyday experience.
We design them as an integral part of the architecture, taking into account function, building scale, intensity of use, material durability and the standard the development is intended to represent.
Tell us about your development
Common areas as the calling card of a development
A lobby, reception area or entrance hall should not be treated as an incidental space between the façade and the apartments.
It is where the architecture of the building, materials, light and detail begin to create a direct experience of the development. Carefully designed common areas strengthen its identity and help maintain consistency between the way the project is presented, the standard of the apartments and the actual quality of its shared interiors.
In a high-end apartment building, proportion, material consistency and the way residents and visitors are guided through the building become particularly important. A prestigious interior does not need to be excessive. Its quality is established primarily through appropriate scale, well-considered finishes and precisely developed details.
The developments we design
Premium apartment buildings and residential developments
The core of this service is the design of common areas in new apartment buildings and residential developments where the quality of the shared spaces must reflect the high standard of the project as a whole.
The commission may concern a single building or a larger development comprising several buildings and repeated circulation areas.
In each case, we establish a clear hierarchy of spaces, from the main lobby and prominent entrance areas to lift halls, corridors and the remaining common parts of the building.
Boutique residential developments
We also design common areas for smaller, boutique apartment buildings.
Where space is limited, proportion, efficient planning and carefully selected solutions become especially important. The aim is to create a distinctive identity without overwhelming the interior.
Refurbishment of existing common areas
The scope may also include the comprehensive transformation of existing lobbies, corridors, staircases and reception areas.
We assess the architecture, technical condition and constraints of the building, then define the functional and design changes that can meaningfully improve the quality and consistency of its common spaces.
Spaces that may be included in the project
The detailed scope is tailored to the character of the development, the structure of the building and the intended standard.
Lobbies and entrance halls
We design the principal entrance spaces that create the first impression and introduce residents and visitors to the character of the development.
The concept may include spatial planning, materials, lighting, furniture, decorative elements, building identity and individually designed architectural details.
Reception and resident service areas
Where a building includes a reception or concierge desk, we design it as a functional part of the lobby and an integral element of the wider interior.
We consider the way residents are served, the required support facilities, the visibility of the desk and the relationship between its practical and presentational functions.
Corridors and lift halls
In multi-storey buildings, corridors and lift halls often account for a significant proportion of the designed area.
We develop a coherent system of materials, lighting, signage and details. Solutions may be repeated across floors or varied in a controlled manner, depending on the architectural concept.
The objective is to maintain quality while responding to the scale of the development, implementation costs and long-term operation.
Staircases and circulation
We treat staircases as part of the interior architecture rather than exclusively as technical circulation spaces.
The design may include finishes, balustrades, lighting, colour, floor identification and other elements that make movement through the building clear and consistent.
Additional resident amenities
Depending on the development programme, the scope may also include selected shared amenities such as residents’ lounges, meeting areas, recreational spaces, multifunctional rooms or other facilities.
Each space should arise from the character of the building and the genuine needs of its future residents.
Visual quality and intensive use
Residential common areas must combine a high-quality visual character with durability and practical maintenance.
When selecting materials and solutions, we consider frequency of use, surface resistance, cleaning requirements, service access and the possibility of replacing individual elements without compromising the overall composition.
Requirements relating to circulation, escape routes, accessibility and fire safety are also important. Solutions requiring specialist input are coordinated with the appropriate discipline-specific designers, fire-safety consultants and other appointed specialists.
A high standard should not rely on finishes that look impressive only on the day the building is handed over. The design must consider how the interior will function and retain its quality over many years of use.
Consistency with the architecture and identity of the development
The design of the common areas should arise from the architecture, location and scale of the building, as well as the profile of its future residents.
A lobby for a boutique apartment building in a historic part of the city requires a different response from the entrance areas of a large contemporary residential complex.
We do not apply one set of solutions to different developments. Each project receives its own language of materials, colour, lighting and detail.
Where a development has an established visual identity, its elements can be introduced into the interior in a way that remains subordinate to the architecture. Signage, numbering, logos and the information system should form a coherent whole without dominating the space.
What the common area interior design service includes
The scope is agreed individually according to the size and stage of the development and the number of spaces to be designed.
Review of the development and documentation
We review the architectural design, functional layout of the building, common area schedule, intended standard and project programme.
We also examine the discipline-specific and technical solutions that may affect the interiors.
Functional and spatial concept
We organise the layout of the lobby, reception and other common areas. We define the relationships between entrances, circulation, lifts, service points and additional functions.
For repeated areas, we develop a system that can be applied consistently across subsequent floors.
Interior concept and visualisations
We create a coherent concept encompassing materials, colour, lighting, furniture, signage and the character of the architectural detail.
Visualisations present the principal spaces and allow the design direction to be approved with confidence before implementation begins.
Materials, lighting and furnishings
We select finishing materials, lighting, furniture, textiles and other elements appropriate to the intended standard and intensity of use.
For larger developments, we also consider how solutions can be applied consistently across multiple spaces and floors.
Bespoke elements
We design reception and concierge desks, joinery, seating, stonework, metalwork, balustrades, decorative wall finishes and other elements developed specifically for the project.
Interior design documentation
We prepare interior design documentation and guidelines arising from the approved concept.
The precise scope is agreed individually. Discipline-specific designs, fire-safety documentation and other specialist work requiring separate professional qualifications remain within the responsibility of the appropriate appointed designers and consultants.
Design oversight during implementation
Wolski Studio may remain involved during implementation, reviewing the work for consistency with the approved concept within the interior design scope.
We clarify the documentation for contractors and participate in decisions requiring design judgement. The extent of this service and the frequency of site visits are agreed according to the location, scale and programme of the development.
When to begin working with us
The best time to begin the conversation is when the principal parameters of the development, the building layout and the common area programme have been defined, while the key material, lighting and building-services decisions can still be coordinated.
At the beginning of the collaboration, we require:
- the architectural design or current drawings;
- a schedule of the spaces to be included;
- information about the current stage of the development;
- the intended standard of the building;
- the design and implementation programme;
- information about discipline-specific solutions that have already been approved.
The project may also begin at a more advanced stage. In that situation, we first establish which elements remain open and which decisions can still be influenced in a meaningful way.
Selected office spaces
As a complementary part of this service, the scope may include selected prominent office spaces such as lobbies, reception areas, meeting rooms, executive offices or client-facing areas.
This applies to projects that require an individual approach, high material quality and a coherent architectural character.
Office interiors remain an extension of the service. Its principal focus is the design of common areas for premium apartment buildings and residential developments.
Wolski Studio
Wolski Studio is a Warsaw-based interior architecture practice led by interior architect Grzegorz Wolski.
Each project is developed for a specific building, investor and group of future users. We bring together spatial thinking, function, materials, lighting, furnishings and interior design documentation within one structured process.
Tell us about your development
If you are developing a premium apartment building or residential project and are looking for a studio to design its common areas, please contact us at:
In your message, please include:
- the location and type of development;
- the number of buildings and approximate common area floor space;
- the spaces to be included in the project;
- the current stage of the development;
- the preferred project start date;
- the anticipated implementation programme;
- the scope of service you are considering.
If you have drawings, an architectural design, an area schedule or other documentation describing the development, please attach it to your message.
This will allow us to review the project and respond regarding the potential scope and timing of the collaboration.