Air, movement and the characteristic, asymmetric silhouette of the Skyliner skyscraper, resembling a blade cutting through the sky over Warsaw - these motifs became the inspiration for MIXD for the interior design of the LookUp conference and event space, which is located on the 41st and 42nd floor of this building owned by Karimpol Polska. The operator of this place is Villa Foksal - a company known on the Warsaw event and catering market for 25 years.
Skyliner is growing in the very center of the new business district of Warsaw, right next to Rondo Daszyńskiego. The dynamics of this place, undergoing a rapid transformation from a slightly neglected industrial district into a modern, urban city, the intersection of important communication arteries of the capital and the building itself, soaring into the sky to a height of 195 meters, contributed to the idea of the MIXD design concept. "Cutting Edge" is an English phrase that on the one hand simply means a blade, on the other - something pioneering, futuristic, newest, fresh. It fits this place perfectly and corresponds to the space we designed," says Piotr Kalinowski, CEO and artistic director of MIXD.
Dynamic flight
The new space covers an area of 830 m2. LookUp offers the latest multimedia technologies, a fully equipped kitchen and a unique space with a view of the city skyline. On the 41st floor there will be a reception with a lounge area and an event space for 120 people. “We kept in mind all along that this place would have to adapt flexibly to the needs of subsequent tenants. Hence the combination of neutral, subdued, but high-quality materials on the walls, floors and ceilings with bold, more three-dimensional elements: a spectacular bar and an installation in the shape of a ribbon spinning in the air. The space is almost empty, the madness of details, patterns and textures takes place on the walls and other surfaces. Materials in geometric combinations look as if they were cut with a giant blade, and the cutting lines actually open them and allow you to look inside," says Michał Werner, design manager of MIXD.
Stylish repeats
The multiplied slopes echo the silhouette of the Skyliner. They give surfaces made of copper-colored mirrors, burl veneer, concrete, milled MDF and hot-oxidized steel a dynamic character. An intriguing game of repetition also applies to the ribbon installation located under the roof of the 42nd floor. A similar wavy motif can be found on the EGE Carpets floor covering and maple burl, as well as on the bar buffet made of composite material, developed in cooperation with the Polish company Migaloo Home. "In this case, the artistic inspiration for these elements were the characteristic graphics of Nikodem Szpunar." – points out Michał Werner. The third recurring motif is the circle - starting with a custom installation based on the Ambiente by Chors lamp at the reception, through round wall lamps made of semi-transparent, alabaster-like resin on the walls of the 41st floor (another custom element, created in cooperation with Migaloo Home), to the tondo greeting people leaving. from the elevator on the 42nd floor and banquet table tops.
Practical solutions
The spacious, high interiors of the event rooms (on the 42nd floor it is as much as 14.5 meters!) required the introduction of appropriate acoustic solutions to avoid the echo effect. On the 41st floor there is a "pleated" ceiling made of acoustic boards, on the 42nd floor there are acoustic panels covering the inner core of the building. MIXD designers also came up with solutions that allow for easy but effective personalization of the space. “Multimedia screens have been installed on the high wall at the reception desk. They can display dedicated animations, a logo, an advertising creation, a photo slideshow or a welcome text. The spectrum of possibilities is very wide. In turn, the installation on the 42nd floor can be illuminated," says Michał Werner.
