WrocLOFT it’s an adaptation of a former gymnastic hall in a heritage-listed and over 100 years old building.
THE BUILDING:
The building’s function was changed from its original educational purpose to residential use as part of a developer-led commercialization process. From the open space of the gymnastic hall, two residential units were created. Inside each unit, lightweight prestressed mezzanine floors were constructed, enabling two levels to be built within the tall and spacious volume.
During the adaptation works, unlike the restored façade and reconstructed window frames, most of the historical layers inside the building were covered up, concealing some valuable elements under plaster and drywall.
THE PROJECT:
The main goal of this secondary interior adaptation was the opposite of a typical interior design project – that is, the existing finishes were deconstructed, and the preserved historical elements that give the building its identity were revealed and highlighted, regardless of their imperfections or damage.
Exposed and sandblasted again were the clinker and brick wall faces, including visible grooves from old installations, the steel ceiling beam with granite support and brick corbels, and the underside of the industrial Rector-type floor structure.
The newly applied materials were carefully selected to continue the character of the original building. On the ground floor, the kitchen and toilet areas were covered with glazed tiles, patterned with reference to the historic clinker.
In the upper bathroom, rustic terracotta tiles were laid in an overlapping and staggered pattern, complementing the exposed brick wall in the bedroom area and forming a strong contrast with the monolithic bathtub.
The custom furniture installations were designed in a minimalist style, with wood, stone, and brushed copper textures, simple detailing, and large surface elements that contrast with the historical fabric of the interior.
A key newly designed element of the interior is the staircase, which, in its winding layout, allowed for the recovery of a relaxation space on the ground floor and the creation of a semi-open walk-in wardrobe space on the upper level. Made with perforated metal sheet railings in a self-supporting structure, it maintained the lightness and spaciousness of the interior.
The wardrobe and bathroom on the upper floor were designed to be partially transparent, divided with semi-translucent, structural acrylic panels, allowing natural light to flow through while maintaining privacy for both functions.
In response to the current needs of the apartment’s new residents, the arrangement was designed as an open loft studio. A modular lighting system, semi-transparent materials, and a movable curtain that visually separates the upper level allow for continuous reconfiguration and adaptation of the space, with the option to create enclosed rooms in the future.
Location: Wroclaw, Poland
Author: arch. Bartlomiej Zaboj
Usable Area: 79 m²
