Apartment in a neo-Gothic building|PdD

The Loft Factory is a part of an 18th century hospital complex revitalized and turned into a luxury building.

A place with history

- We find it most pleasant to design in such surroundings — smiles Agata Kasprzyk-Olszewska, owner of Loft Factory.

True to its name, the studio specializes in interiors of buildings with history — primarily post-industrial ones. Here, however, the architects had a unique opportunity to face the space of Wrocław's oldest municipal hospital.

This is an absolutely unique place. The main edifice of the complex was built more than 200 years ago as the headquarters of the Allerheiligen Hospital, or Szpital Wszystkich Świętych. German architect Karl Gottfried Geissler gave it a striking neo-Gothic look, with richly decorated brick facades and steep roofs from which slender turrets shoot into the sky.

The apartment is located in a former hospital complex

Photo: Stan Zajączkowski/zajaczkowski.eu

In addition to the artistic and historic qualities of the building, its location on the Old Town Promenade adds extraordinary value. The place of the defensive walls back in the 19th century was taken by a park stretched along the former city moat. It is an enclave of greenery in the heart of Wrocław.

The interiors of the revitalized complex are also unique. Here you will find elegantly finished corridors, bright staircases and apartments more than 4 meters high with huge windows topped with an arch. Even with a small footprint, such large glazing create a feeling of spaciousness.

Authentic materials

What were the investor's wishes?

- One of the first was to extract the historic brick from under a layer of plaster. Labor- and time-consuming renovation, carried out by a specialized company, gave excellent results. Today we are looking at the original brick on the ceiling, not an imitation — stresses Agata Kasprzyk-Olszewska.

The second important issue was the construction of the mezzanine floor. Here the challenge became calculating the structure so that, with adequate load-bearing capacity, it would not be an excessive load on the building itself. It became equally important to match its size and form to the space of the small apartment. The steel structure with a distinctly loft-like character was made by Warszawski Kowal.

The ceiling features original historic brick

Photo: Stan Zajączkowski/zajaczkowski.eu

In an industrial style

The sliding door made of metal and glass connect the living room with the bedroom. They have the same aesthetic feature. This is a proposal of the architects.

- Originally the two rooms were separated by a wall. Opening it with a clearance added light and air to the apartment. It also improved the proportions of the small square footage to the impressive interior height — adds Agata Kasprzyk-Olszewska.

The bedroom is separated from the living room by a sliding door

Photo Stan Zajączkowski/zajaczkowski.eu

The industrial design fit perfect to the owner's guidelines, who wanted the apartment to have a raw character. That's why you'll find here radiators made of colorless lacquered steel, an oiled plank on the floor, metal skirting boards or concrete decor on the fronts of the kitchen and closets. The bathroom is also entirely covered in micro-cement, broken only by touches of very technical fixtures in a shade of brushed brass.

The bathroom has been finished with microcement

Photo: Stan Zajączkowski/zajaczkowski.eu

A return to loft roots

The main, lower level features a living room with a kitchenette, a bedroom and a bathroom. The mezzanine floor is designed with a sleeping space for guests, a bookcase and a wardrobe development. The interior composition is based on a minimal amount of furniture and accessories. Simple forms dominate here, broken by enlivening vintage elements — primarily in the form of chairs, brought by the owner from Northern Europe.

Against this background, the paintings of Polish artist Anna Mierzejewska stand out. They can be found in the living room, bedroom and on the mezzanine. Another artistic touch is added by tables designed by sculptor Jakub Biewald. The art brings the apartment closer to the origins of lofts — post-industrial spaces turned into studios and artists' homes.

The fronts of the kitchen development feature concrete decor

Photo by Stan Zajączkowski/zajaczkowski.eu

Many shades of brick

The typical industrial juxtaposition of white with anthracite and black is enlivened by the brick color. This hue is present on the ceiling, in the external window glyphs and on the roofs visible behind the windows. The brick-red color unifies the interior with its surroundings. We can also see this shade on the sofa, bed headrest, and lamps illuminating the living room. The fixtures in two colors (deep orange and black), just like the chairs, are brought here by the owner herself along with a handful of personal items. In this way, the space of the historic edifice now tells her story.