Promenada / ARCHMONDO

Architects: ARCHMONDO
Area: 2,158 m²
Total Area: 2,616 m²
Site Area: 1,168 m²
Volume: 8,856 m³
Year: 2024
Photography: Jakub Certowicz
Lead Architect: Piotr Kowalczyk
Architects Team: Piotr Kowalczyk, Karolina Kotowska-Kusiak
Design Team: Piotr Kowalczyk, Adrianna Wycislo, Oliwia Pawłowska
Landscape Design: TopoScape
Location: Władysławowo, Aleja Gwiazd Sportu
Country: Poland

On Poland’s northern coast, a new aparthotel redefines the character of seaside architecture. Designed by ARCHMONDO under the direction of Piotr Kowalczyk, Promenada occupies a discreet site just minutes from the Baltic shoreline. The four-story building is conceived as an antidote to the often chaotic visual language of local resort developments, offering a refined and restrained alternative. Within its 2,100 square meters, the project houses twenty-six apartments intended for multigenerational stays, accompanied by carefully designed communal areas that balance privacy with connection. The interiors reflect the same disciplined geometry that shapes the exterior, marked by pale finishes and abundant natural light. A landscape plan developed by TopoScape reinforces the building’s sensitivity to its context, integrating native grasses and weathered timber characteristic of the surrounding coast. More than simply a functional retreat, Promenada represents a deliberate architectural stance, suggesting a future for Polish seaside towns defined less by spectacle and more by precision, calm, and coherence.

My main concern for Promenada Aparthotel was to ensure that the building didn’t dominate its surroundings. I wanted it to feel as light and unobtrusive as possible, which is reflected in its color and form. The building was designed with the aim of “disappearing,” blending into its context without drawing too much attention. The seaside location and the constraints of the plot were key inspirations for this approach.
Interview with Piotr Kowalczyk of ARCHMONDO

Polish coastal towns are known for their exuberant and sometimes unruly architectural expressions, but Promenada in Władysławowo proposes a different path. Rather than competing for attention, the project establishes a quieter architectural rhythm that resonates with its setting. Its presence along Aleja Gwiazd Sportu is not declarative but composed, an exercise in clarity that reframes what seaside development might aspire to.

The building’s design centers on a balance between horizontality and verticality. White facades are anchored by continuous glass screening that unites the balconies, while slim vertical elements recur across cladding, balustrades, and interior partitions, ensuring the entire composition adheres to a single geometric order. A crowning metal pergola reduces the visual weight of the upper level, allowing the structure to sit more lightly within its plot.

Inside, ARCHMONDO extended the same architectural philosophy. Apartments are defined by bright surfaces, geometric detailing, and a carefully controlled flow of natural light. Family-oriented amenities, including a children’s play area and adult retreat zones, position the aparthotel as a versatile destination suited to varied generations.

What ultimately distinguishes Promenada is its relationship to the broader environment. Instead of capitalizing on spectacle, the project adopts a deferential stance toward its coastal landscape. With TopoScape’s intervention, the grounds feature local grasses and timber that naturally belong to the Baltic climate, creating continuity between the built form and its surroundings.

The project demonstrates that restraint can be powerful. In place of the visual noise so often associated with Poland’s coastal development, Promenada presents a new architectural vocabulary measured, deliberate, and enduring. It stands as both a destination for visitors and a manifesto for more thoughtful approaches to the future of the Baltic shore.