Hetmanska 20 Building Flip
Arquitectura, Interiores
Hetmanska 20 is a client-initiated building flip for returning client Vitalii Zinkevych -- a wealthy Ukrainian national established in Poland who had previously commissioned a penthouse interior design from Rise.Design in 2022, then contracted MRVC to build it. For this third engagement, Zinkevych identified an opportunity at ul. Hetmanska 20: a tenement building where two large apartments across two floors totalling 252 square metres could be converted into eight independent self-contained rental units. Rise.Design handled the design; MRVC acted as general contractor.
The spatial strategy is a central corridor spine running the length of each floor, with four self-contained units per floor arranged on either side. This organisation eliminates shared living spaces, maximises the number of lettable units within the existing structural shell, and standardises the fit-out programme for efficiency. Each unit receives a complete domestic programme: open-plan living and sleeping zone, kitchenette, and private bathroom -- everything required for independent habitation compressed into the available envelope.
The bathroom specification is standardised across all eight wet rooms: grey large-format gres wall tiles, walk-in shower with glass panel, wall-hung vanity unit, round mirror, and matte black fixtures. The concrete-effect large-format wall tile variant with black rainshower head demonstrates the design range within the standardised specification, allowing slight variation without compromising the procurement efficiency that the building-flip model requires.
The alternative studio layout variant demonstrates the flexible use potential that each unit supports: the same square metre footprint accommodates a separate sleeping zone in one configuration and a combined living and work arrangement in another. This programmatic flexibility is a deliberate design decision to maximise the rental profile across different tenant types.
The material specification was selected for rental-market durability rather than premium differentiation. Marble-effect quartz countertops provide a visually premium work surface at a practical price point; PVC vinyl plank flooring in the living zones and large-format gres tiles in the bathrooms are both hard-wearing and straightforward to replace. The kitchen palette of white upper cabinets with dark base units, combined with the neutral furnishing approach throughout, ensures broad tenant appeal while controlling fit-out cost per unit.
