Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur by Jan Sikora

Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur by Jan Sikora is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award an Sëlwer in Inneraum an Ausstellungsdesign Competition Category.

SëlwerInterieur· 2021

Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur

by Jan Sikora

Client: ICC Real Estate

A' Design Award an Sëlwer Winner in Interieur Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur

Book Text: Forge Loft ass eng Loftwunneng, déi an enger aler Schmëtt zu Leszno a Polen entstanen ass. D'Schmëtt ass Deel vun enger Pompelsfabrik aus dem 19. Joerhonnert, déi an e Wunnkomplex ëmgebaut gëtt. D'Interieur baséiert op Kontrast. Original Zillmaueren, Betongsbéid an Iwwerläge gi wéi roh Zeien aus der Vergaangenheet behalen. Nei Elementer si neutral an elegant a bilden e Rahmen fir déi historesch Struktur. Schwaarz Uewerflächen, perforéierte Stol, en Stolgelänner an eng Wendeltrap bilden den Hannergrond, während waarm Accessoiren a mëll Textilien de industrielle Charakter mëllleren. D'Wunneng huet eng Fläch vun 120 Quadratmeter.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Sëlwer

Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Sëlwer, enger aussergewéinlech prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un Designe vun der héchster Qualitéit, prächteg a beandrockend vergi gëtt. Sëlwer-Gewënner si bemierkenswäert brillant a ganz kreativ Wierker, déi d'erausragend Expertise, d'Talent an d'Schaarfsënnegkeet vun hire Designer weisen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur e wonnerbart, mustergëlteg, bemierkenswäert professionellt an déif innovatiivt Wierk ass. Dëst mam Sëlwer ausgezeechent Design ass eng bemierkenswäert, bewonnert Erfindung, déi dozou bäidréit, d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie ze erweideren. Forge Loft Primary Function: Wunnengsinneraarchitektur ass eng Kreatioun, op déi vill neidesch sinn, déi Wënsch erweckt, positiv Gefiller bréngt an Erstaunen a Wonner erweckt.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Adaptation of an old forge located in Leszno, Poland into an apartment. The Forge is part of a 19th-century factory of pumps, which ICC Real Estate is turning into a living space. Its vast courtyard is built up on all sides with ceramic brick buildings formed into a technological sequence. In this interior, contrast is the key: what is found is dirty and has broken colors (brick, concrete). What is new is neutral but elegant - it created an ideal compositional "frame" for the historical tissue.
Dimensions & Packaging: 120 square metres, size: 13x7m (ground floor), 7x4m (mezzanine - added)
Tags: interior, loft, factory, forge, revitalization, Poland, apartment, residential
Production Technology: The loft space has its original brick walls, a concrete floor, lintels and other raw elements. Black (in many variants and versions) creates the background with fenix matte in kitchen cabinets, perforated steel, the rhythm of a steel railing, and a soft line of spiral stairs. Accessories in warm shades and soft textures break the postindustrial character. A painting of New York made by the designer was the final touch.
Design Challenge: The key to the success of the project was full control of its implementation. The designer had to be very direct, sharp in opinions and determined - it was easy to destroy this place with a few weak decisions. An additional problem was the implementation of the project during the pandemic. A smaller budget, variable work schedule and disorganized process were some of the difficulties that had to be faced.
Research: Pragmatic aproach to research was implemented, along with case study research. Objectives of the research were to understand the space of the factory and keep the existing character of the forge. Case study methodology was used with focus groups data collection. The effect of the revitalisation is yet to be known, but it can bring the area to live again, while celebrating its history.
Inspiration: The space of the old forge was an amazing inspiration, just like the industrial feel of the pump factory surrounding it. It had the perfection of old dirty walls and a unique atmosphere and smell of a forge. The concept emarged in designer's head moments after experiencing the place for the first time. Raw elements, left as a witness of the history, contrasted with softness of fabrics and greenery.
Project Duration: The project started in February 2020 and finished in November 2020.
Operation Flow: The cities we live in are the museums of our ancestors. Walking the streets (in atmosphere, smell, scale or image of the city) we get to know its history. The pump factory has been unused for almost 30 years. Now it gets to live again with a new function, providing its residents with a space that appratiates its history, instead of hiding it.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Jan Sikora, 2020
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Tom Kurek, Forge Loft, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer Tom Kurek, Forge Loft, 2020.
Image #3: Photographer Tom Kurek, Forge Loft, 2020.
Image #4: Photographer Tom Kurek, Forge Loft, 2020.
Image #5: Photographer Tom Kurek, Forge Loft, 2020.