MS Investments and co-investor RR Enterprises plan to replace a postmodernist office building at Żurawia 8 in Warsaw with a 69-unit residential development. The address, located near Three Crosses Square and the Royal Route, previously housed a radio station and will return to residential use for the first time since the early 20th century. Demolition is scheduled to begin this autumn, with the first residents expected to move in in 2029.
The building has been designed by Dutch studio MVSA Architects, making its debut on the Polish market. MVSA has experience in transforming buildings within historic urban fabric and has previously delivered projects including the Wonderwoods towers in Utrecht and residential and institutional buildings in Amsterdam. Warsaw-based studio APMD is also involved in the design process.
The development will offer 69 apartments ranging from 40 to 280 sqm, each with a terrace or balcony planted with greenery that will also form part of the building's façade. The vegetation will act as a natural acoustic barrier and support rainwater retention, with plants selected for the Polish climate maintained by a specialist landscaping company. Full-height glazing, smart-home solutions and panoramic views from the top-floor penthouses are among the features planned, alongside 70 underground parking spaces, a fitness club, a lounge and two ground-floor commercial units.
"The new Żurawia 8 is a project for people who want to live or invest in property in the true centre of Warsaw. The building has been designed with respect for its surroundings, using the highest-quality materials and solutions for urban greenery. We are also drawing on the history of the site," said Michał Szramowski, CEO of MS Investments.
"The concept for Żurawia 8 is based on a contrast between the disciplined form of the building, responding to the surrounding urban fabric, and the organic character of the interior of the block. We have found a balance between respect for the history of the site and expressive contemporary architecture," said Roman Reiff, co-investor in Żurawia 8 and CEO of RR Enterprises.
MS Investments and RR Enterprises have been active in the real estate market for more than two decades, with completed projects valued at over PLN 600 million in total. Their Warsaw portfolio includes the converted residential building at 1 K.K. Baczyńskiego Street and commercial properties occupied by tenants including Bank Pocztowy S.A. and Canal+ Polska. The project at Żurawia 8 holds a final and binding construction permit.
