Krakow's Zabłocie is slowly waking up from its factory lethargy. For a long time it was a district standing in the shadow of the bustling Kazimierz district. In addition to more residential buildings and service establishments - hairdressing salons and popular pastry shops in post-industrial buildings - Zabłocie is seeing the construction of Hala Lipowa, Krakow's first food hall.
For Krakow's jedlings, gourmands and food lovers, this is very important news. Zabłocie has only recently been expanding its culinary offerings, but they are still quite narrow. Although many crackpots will regret BAL, the Linden Hall should console all those who are saddened. The mjuut studio is responsible for the design of the food hall in Zabłocie. Originally, the hall was to be called "Halka", but, as it turned out, the name is reserved.
Basia Hyjek: Upon hearing the news of BAL's closure, many Cracovians let out a cry of sadness. Humors, however, were quickly improved by news of the Linden Hall to be built here. Please tell us about the idea of this place.
Anna Korzeniowska: Everything starts with the people. The investors spent a long time looking for a suitable place to open the first food hall concept in Krakow. Zabłocie seemed to be the right address. The idea is to create a place on the map of the city, where the relationship between guests - visitors to the halls - and hosts - those serving the dishes - is important. The hall is to be an excuse for meetings accompanied by good food. Through a diverse menu resulting from the presence of several food stands, everyone will find something for themselves.
I took my cues from Amsterdam's urban style of adapted spaces, where every scrap of land is literally at a premium
© mjuut
Basia: What were your inspirations for this project?
Anna: While gaining experience in Dutch studios, I had the opportunity to learn about architecture similar to the one I faced in my hometown of Krakow. I drew patterns from Amsterdam's urban style of adapted spaces, where every piece of land is literally at a premium.
The impetus for the project was the location, the existing building and the nature of the food concept - the food hall, which derives from the train station food areas. The combination of these elements from the beginning told us which way we should go. However, we wanted to break the industrial character and work with the historical fabric with modernity - simplicity in the choice of materials, forms and colors, which in effect give a free style.
Basia: What was the biggest difficulty in creating this place?
Anna: The biggest challenge, was to design food stands that would have the same aesthetic code associated with the entire concept, while maintaining the opportunity given to tenants to express themselves and their brand.
The treatments we decided on are meant to bring out the attractiveness of the place. Strengthen the spatiality of the hall, highlight the incredible window expanses and expose the skylights, which are characteristic of this type of building in Zabłocie
© mjuut
The balance on the boundary between cohesion and individuality has been preserved and turned into an asset. Characteristic common denominators such as the bodies of the stands or the neon logos appear. I would add that these treatments would not have been achievable without conscious and courageous investors, who from the beginning cared about the quality of not only the food served, but also the quality of the space.
Basia: Linden Hall will be built in a specific space. Will its character be preserved or completely changed?
Anna: We are trying to emphasize the existing tissue rather than change it. The treatments we have decided on are to bring out the attractiveness of the place. To enhance the spatiality of the hall, highlight the amazing window slopes and expose the skylights characteristic of this type of building in Zabłocie.
Basia: What materials will be used here, what interior design is planned?
Anna: The overriding material is steel. We are constructing mezzanines, food stalls, a bar from it, but also other small design elements, such as flowerbeds and even designed lamps. Furniture, such as tables and chairs also designed by us, are a combination of steel and wood veneers. Concrete on the industrial floor also appears. Breaking the severity of the existing tissue are the colors used, which give individual form to the space, and lush vegetation completes the whole establishment.
Breaking the austerity of the existing tissue are the colors used, which give individual form to the space, and lush vegetation completes the entire premise.
© mjuut
