What connects fusion kitchens, industrial style and Lodz's Jasień River? Designers from boko architekci studio tried to refer to the obscured water infrastructure in the realization "Hidden Rivers", which was located in the post-industrial space of Lodz.
"Hidden Rivers" is a restaurant located in the Geyer Gardens complex - a former post-factory area where cultural facilities were also located back in the 19th century. Under the gardens area flows the Jasien River - one of the so-called hidden rivers, a large part of which has been closed under the surface of Lodz. The hidden rivers are well known to readers of Filip Springer's "Bathtub with a Colonnade." It was their theme that was one of the elements inspiring restaurateurs dealing with Polish fusion cuisine, as well as designers from boko architekci.
Neon signs can be found in every part of the restaurant
photo by Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
industrial character
The restaurant, with an area of more than five hundred square meters, was located in a building that was formerly the engine and boiler room of an industrial plant. The post-factory space consists of two ten-meter-high rooms, which even despite the use of a mezzanine create the impression of an almost open space.
The architects decided to take advantage of the industrial character resulting from the buildings' history. Brick walls were exposed in the restaurant space, leaving a residue of plaster or operational dirt in many places. Equally important solutions resulting from the industrial use of the building in the past were the large windows - at the same time allowing adequate lighting for the two-story interior, into which a mezzanine floor was introduced.
The industrial character of the interior is created primarily by the preservation of the brick and the original size of the windows
Photo: Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
looking for individuality
However,the industrial character of the interior is not something that was supposed to completely dominate "Hidden Rivers," so the designers with the investors decided to put additional touches. The two floors of the restaurant were connected by a sixty-square-meter mural - it was this that allowed the space to unite. It was placed on the walls of the cuboid, in which the bathrooms intended for guests were hidden.
The mural unites the space of two floors
Photo: Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
The name of the room on the second floor of the restaurant is no coincidence. Jasień refers to the hidden river that flows in the canals just below the Geyer Gardens complex. The room stands out from the rest of the interiors primarily because of its openness - it can easily be adapted for events and conferences for sixty people. The distinguishing element is the lack of a clear division between the tables, as well as the setting of more than one hundred and twenty white balls, which contrast against the black gabled roof.
In an attempt to break up the brick color scheme, part of the walls were finished with wooden panels with concave gouges. Above them, it was decided to use stacked vertical ceramic tiles with a dark blue color scheme.
Jasien room, which can be easily transformed for events or conferences
Photo: Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
subject green
Another defining factor of this arrangement is the introduction of greenery by the designers at Boko Architects. Next to the bar, they decided on a green wall filled with monstera, strelitzia, alokazia or horsetails. A small white neon sign with the words "Good vibes only" was introduced between the lush foliage.
Greenery is an important design element
Photo: Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
Flower pots can be found in virtually every part of the restaurant. In many spaces they serve not only a decorative function, but also to divide the space. In this way, natural barriers have been created to separate individual tables. In the case of the Jasien room ultimately used for events and conferences, the greenery was set up in six movable flowerbeds reaching ninety centimeters in length.
The bathroom located behind the mural
Photo: Oni Studio, © Boko Architects
