Authors: Milena Zindović and Aleksandra Savović

Year of realization: 2022 – 2023.

Surface area: 138 m2

Location: Belgrade

Salon-style apartments are characteristic of Belgrade’s interwar architecture, a period of modernization and reconstruction for the city. Typical of the middle-class lifestyle of the time, these apartments are easily recognizable today by several features. Most people associate salon-style apartments with high ceilings and ornate plasterwork. While this ornamentation can vary, the clear height of these apartments typically exceeds 3 meters, surpassing postwar and modern standards.

Another distinguishing feature is the functional layout with two entrances. Originally, these apartments offered a clear separation between the living area and the “economic” section, comprising the kitchen, pantry, and maid’s room. This separation ensured privacy for the family and guests from everyday household activities. The layout itself is easily recognizable. The larger, representative zone features grander spaces like the salon with street views and connected rooms. In contrast, the economic zone houses smaller, less-lit rooms like the kitchen and maid’s room. The central dining room served as a link between these two distinct zones.

The apartment retained its original layout, except for PVC windows installed by the previous owner – a choice we unfortunately could not influence, as we generally advise against PVC windows in residential spaces, especially in buildings of historical significance. The original state of the apartment presented several construction challenges, including complete replacement of floor coverings, repairing walls, and installing new heating systems. Adding to the complexity was the unclear project scope regarding the apartment’s intended use – whether the owner would retain it for residential purposes or convert it into commercial space.

To enhance functionality and align with modern living, the project introduced several layout modifications. Bedroom walls were relocated to optimize space and functionality. Inspired by postwar Belgrade apartments, doors between rooms were eliminated, creating distinct day and night zones in the larger section of the apartment. The proportions of the main bathroom were also adjusted for a better arrangement of sanitary ware.

Significant changes were made to the economic zone. One of the toilets was converted into a smaller bathroom, and eliminating storage areas allowed for the expansion of the kitchen and maid’s room. Both entrances and doors connecting the larger and smaller sections were retained, providing flexibility for potential future use as separate units.

The economic zone’s layout was streamlined to accommodate an entrance hall, a small bathroom, a larger kitchen with a dining table, and a smaller bedroom with access to a glazed terrace. The kitchen houses the heating and central boiler units serving the entire apartment.

Given the lack of original decorative elements worth preserving, the interior design project introduced new contemporary elements to elevate the apartment’s aesthetic appeal. Instead of imitating traditional moldings and decorations, the ceiling treatment features rounded geometric shapes, reminiscent of classic interior design approaches but reinterpreted in a modern style.

The flooring was completely reconstructed, involving a new wooden frame and a stable OSB subfloor, followed by the installation of floor coverings. Raising the floor allowed for running the heating system, which was entirely replaced. For the representative zone, classic solid oak parquet was chosen, laid in a contemporary style, reflecting the apartment’s modernization. In the entrance hall and kitchen, graphic-pattern ceramic tiles were used, inspired by the original checkerboard pattern.

The project ensured that the electrical system was completely reconstructed, and a low-current system and LAN connections were introduced, aligning the apartment’s infrastructure with contemporary requirements.

While the investor hadn’t finalized the space’s intended use, the interior design project proposed its final layout, furnishing, and presented it through 3D visualizations, providing a comprehensive vision for the apartment’s potential.

The renovation of this salon-style apartment demonstrates how these unique spaces can be preserved and enhanced through thoughtful interventions, adapting their original charm to meet modern living needs while retaining their architectural heritage. The flexibility of the layout, along with the upgraded infrastructure, allows the apartment to seamlessly transition into either residential or commercial use.

More photos of the reconstructed apartment in the gallery: