Design and renovation of a suburban villa

House DO | Interiors of a suburban villa in Szczecin designed for a family of four. The house, with a history dating back to the 1920s, has been rebuilt and modernized many times; it came into the possession of its current owners in 2010—who were drawn to its remote, wooded location in Szczecin’s Osowo district and its close proximity to the city’s forests. Following an initial structural renovation, the owners commissioned the ANNA THUROW studio to handle the complete interior design, including a facade renovation, garden landscaping, and the design of a swimming pool—all as part of a turnkey project, with the studio providing design supervision at every stage.

The inspiration came from the character and history of a nearby pre-war forest complex. The spaces were designed around the concept of a hidden sanctuary—austere and mysterious, fostering a sense of intimacy and comfort, where the materials used engage in a dialogue with nature, which flows into these interiors through panoramic windows.

The materials were selected based on the principle of distinct, tactile textures in a dark, subdued color palette. Rustic, brushed Boen oak planks on the floors contrast with the raw concrete of the walls and ceilings. Dark-stained oak slats, running along the walls and concealing the unevenness of the ceilings, are a free interpretation of the vertical structures of the surrounding forest. Large-format porcelain tiles complete the palette of rough surfaces. Individually tinted shades of concrete-plaster mixtures, built-in furniture in natural and stained oak veneer, and custom-designed details were created specifically for this project—designed from scratch and crafted by local artisans according to the studio’s specifications, they bring a unique and distinctive character to these interiors.

In the open-plan ground floor, glass partitions discreetly delineate individual zones without disrupting the interior’s continuity. Concealed doors to utility rooms are flush with the slatted, meticulously designed built-in furniture, emphasizing the space’s cohesion. Lighting—Flos, Wever & Ducré, Vibia, Deltalight—was selected individually for each zone, shaping the mood and hierarchy of the space.

As if to defy the austere surroundings, there stands an oval staircase in burgundy—with surgically shaped steps and a semicircular enclosure that echoes the modernist elements of the original villa.

The project was developed as a comprehensive turnkey solution encompassing interiors, facades, furniture, and artwork tailored to the development. The scope of work included landscaping of the garden, pool, and outdoor fixtures.

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