Kulinarna Kamienica Food Hall

Art Nouveau, steam locomotives, and cocktails. The interiors of a new food hall in a historic tenement house in the centre of Poznań, designed by Biuro Kreacja and M19 Architekci

The Wiedeńska Town House in the centre of Poznań, a historic building from the early 20th century, has just been given new life. Spanning over 1,500 m² across two connected buildings, the space leads guests through different eras and aesthetics: Art Nouveau details and stained glass, industrial references to Poznań’s history, minimalist design inspired by Asia, and the saturated colours of the East. Designers from Biuro Kreacja and M19 Architekci have brought these historic interiors back to life, combining refined design with a contemporary approach to gastronomy. This is how Kulinarna Kamienica came into being – a new, vibrant destination in this part of Poznań.

The Wiedeńska Town House at Podgórna Street 11/13 in Poznań was built at the beginning of the 20th century as an elegant, representative Art Nouveau tenement – a place that attracted attention with its intricate Art Nouveau details, hand-painted stained-glass windows, and rich ornamentation. Located along an important urban thoroughfare, for decades it witnessed the lively rhythm of Poznań’s city centre, serving both residential and commercial functions.

Over time, as a result of neglect and post-war reconstruction during the communist era, the building lost its former splendour. The interiors deteriorated, and the entire tenement remained for years in a state close to ruin.

The Orient Express stops at Podgórna
The task given to Biuro Kreacja and M19 Architekci was to find a balance between the weight of the history of the tenement at Podgórna Street 11/13 and the need to give it a new, lively urban function. Thus Kulinarna Kamienica was born – an open, contemporary space inspired by the food hall / restaurant market format, combining diverse flavours, original culinary concepts, and accessible menus. A place offering ten different cuisines and three bars, each with its own distinct style.

The metaphor of a journey on the Orient Express allowed the designers to guide guests through different eras, cultures, and aesthetics within a single tenement. From the elegant Art Nouveau and stained glass of the Wiedeńska Town House, through industrial accents referencing the legacy of Hipolit Cegielski, to minimalist inspirations from Asia and the intense colours of the East – each fragment of the interior became a separate “stop” on this culinary and visual journey.

From a station waiting room to the Far East
Upon entering Kulinarna Kamienica, visitors immediately find themselves in a space that naturally refers to the Art Nouveau origins of the building.

The high vault, the rhythm of shopfronts, and Art Nouveau details evoke the elegance of historic railway galleries – places of meeting and waiting along the way. Floors, arches, and hand-painted ornaments create the atmosphere of the early 20th century, while a centrally located bar with a curved form, finished in walnut veneer, organises the space and gives it a representative character. Upholstered seating and subtle references to railway carriage interiors introduce the motif of travel, which becomes the axis of the entire project and a natural starting point for the further narrative.

From the courtyard side, the architecture clearly changes its character, moving from Art Nouveau elegance towards the industrial traces of old Poznań.

This part of the space refers to the history of the H. Cegielski factory in Poznań, which at the beginning of the 20th century was the country’s largest centre of steam locomotive production – all the more significant given that Cegielski’s own villa was once located in the courtyard adjacent to the investment. Steel fittings, industrial lamps, and furniture establish a technical rhythm, while murals depicting historic steam machines become a visual commentary on the city’s industrial heritage.

The heart of this area is a covered terrace, which, interestingly, was not even part of the original design.

As she emphasises, the industrial zone is not a literal reconstruction of the past, but a refined visual variation on the history of Poznań, which organises the space and gives it context, while fitting into the modern Restaurant Market format.

Moving further, the interiors of Kulinarna Kamienica gradually become calmer and more restrained. The Asia-inspired zone introduces a japandi aesthetic – light, orderly, and economical in form. Minimalist tables referencing Japanese simplicity, natural materials such as light wood, and wall-covering textiles organise the space and offer a sense of relief. The whole is complemented by simple, soft light from paper lanterns, creating an atmosphere of calm and focus.

This subdued rhythm gradually gives way to more intense sensations. In the Eastern zone, rich colours appear – burgundy and orange – along with dark wood and colourful lanterns made from Indian fabrics. The space gains depth and warmth, referencing the strong aromas and flavours of the cuisines present here, and closing the interior narrative with a contrast between minimalism and sensual intensity.

The final stop
This journey of flavours ends upstairs – in a more intimate space, open to the city thanks to historic shopfront windows. It is a place of everyday rituals: coffee during the day and longer evening conversations over cocktails. Soft, comfortable sofas and a restrained palette of burgundy and navy blue create a mood of calm, while warm, atmospheric light subtly plays across fabrics and deliberately imperfect plasters executed using the wabi-sabi technique.

A journey on a grand scale
The scale of the undertaking was one of the greatest challenges of the entire project. Kulinarna Kamienica occupies over 1,500 m², spanning two connected buildings across three levels – from the basement, through the ground floor, to the upper floor – which at the design and supervision stages required precise coordination.

Maintaining a balance between the needs of modern gastronomy and the consistent realisation of the original concept was key.

Back on the city map
Today, Kulinarna Kamienica closes one chapter and simultaneously opens a new one. A building that for decades witnessed the transformations of the city – from the Art Nouveau ambitions of the early 20th century, through the industrial rhythm of Cegielski’s Poznań, to a period of slow oblivion – has once again become a living part of the city centre.

The revitalisation restored not only its architectural dignity, but also its social role: a place for meetings, conversations, and everyday rituals, embedded in a space with a strong identity.

Design: Biuro Kreacja and M19 Architekci
Photography: Alka Murat