In 1960, the Wood Industry Union announced a competition for the design of cheap but functional furniture that could furnish an entire basic flat. The furniture was supposed to take into account the conditions of mass production, the size of Polish homes, and the functionality of each piece by itself and as a whole set.
Bogusława and Czesław Kowalski’s MK system (short for meble kasetonowe, segmented furniture) won the competition. Their simple furniture was made out of a sturdy outer frame and easy-to-put-together pieces connected with thumb nuts, which allowed for easy arrangement. The rest of the space could be completed using different elements, depending on your needs: a fold-down bed, a fold-down desk, a fold-out table, chairs – you name it! You could even add units on top if you had high ceilings.
The wall unit went into mass production in 1962 and became an instant hit. It became known as ‘Kowalski’s furniture’ or, more popularly the ‘meblościanka’ – translated loosely as a ‘furniture-wall’.
Segmented furniture fundamentally changed the style of industrial furniture: a minimum amount of elements providing the maximum amount of possible solutions for their use. It was the perfect answer for the modern man, woman and child and truly changed the way Poles lived.
The ‘meblościanka’ was most definitely the greatest success of Polish industrial design of the 1960s, and even though it may now be considered out of date, they can still be found in many Polish homes today. While some try to get rid of them in favour of modern designs, others are now seeking them out, appreciating their retro charm.
