WrocLOFT is a project designed by Bartłomiej Zabój of THEZA Architekci studio, which won third place in the SAW 2025 Interior of the Year competition. The architect took on a unique challenge: transforming a section of a former gymnasium in a more than 100-year-old building listed in the National Register of Historic Places into a stylish, modern and functional loft. The result? A space full of contrasts, light and architectural dialogue between past and present.
The 79-square-meter apartment was created in a former gymnasium
© THEZA Architects
From gymnasium to loft - the history of the place
The building in which the #WrocLOFT project was created was subjected to developer commercialization. This meant changing its function from originally a school to residential. Two residential units were extracted from the spacious gymnasium. In order to take full advantage of the impressive interior height, lightweight prestressed ceilings were introduced, allowing the creation of two floors within one apartment.
Two residential units were separated from the open space of the former gymnasium
© THEZA Architects
At the stage of the first adaptation works of the building, the historical layers were covered with plaster and drywall. The author of the project took a completely different route. One of the main objectives was to uncover and expose the authentic historical elements of the interior. The brick and clinker walls were sandblasted, with visible grooves left by former installations. A steel ceiling joist supported by granite blocks and brick consoles was exposed, as well as an industrial Rector-type ceiling structure. All imperfections - cavities, discoloration, traces of use - have been preserved as an integral part of the space's identity. It is worth mentioning that the premises had already been severely flooded after the owner's acceptance due to a plumbing failure in another apartment. This unplanned event led to the dismantling of most of the finishes and the complete emptying of the interior.
One of the main objectives was to uncover and expose the authentic, historic elements of the interior
© THEZA Architects
Modernity in the spirit of an open loft
The design premise was to create a modern, functional living space in the spirit of a loft, which responds to the needs of contemporary users, while leaving room for further adaptation. The interior was planned as an open studio with clearly marked zoning, but without rigidly closing them with walls. The key element of the arrangement turned out to be the staircase - designed in a curved form, thanks to which it was possible to regain more leisure space on the first floor and to create a semi-open dressing room on the mezzanine. The staircase was made as a self-supporting structure made of perforated sheet metal, which added lightness to the whole layout and did not disturb the openness of the interior.
The staircase was made of perforated sheet metal
© THEZA Architects
The living area - living room with kitchen - flows seamlessly into the relaxation zone. On the first floor there was room for a bedroom, a bathroom and a dressing room. Importantly, these rooms are separated by translucent structural acrylic panels, which allow natural light to pass through, while providing users with privacy. The use of such solutions provides the possibility of easy rearrangement of the interior in the future - if necessary, the space can be divided into more enclosed rooms.
The rooms were separated by semi-transparent structural acrylic panels
© THEZA Architects
From raw concrete to powder pink
The design is dominated by a subdued, modern color scheme based on contrasts of black, white and shades of gray. These colors were warmed up with natural wood and delicate color accents, such as the powder pink sofa and the brick wall in the bedroom. This minimalist but cozy visual effect is enhanced by the choice of textures and finishing materials - from the smooth matte fronts of the kitchen furniture, to the vertically stacked glazed tiles, to the characteristic ceiling made of prefabricated reinforced concrete beams with a geometric structure.
A pink sofa diversifies the subdued color scheme
© THEZA Architects
Light plays an equally important role - both natural light, coming in through high windows, and artificial light, arranged in a thoughtful and unobtrusive way: in the form of hidden LED strips, minimalist fixtures or backlighting exposing the brick structure. The design is based on restrained aesthetics, but is not without expressive details - perforated steel stairs with an industrial character, translucent sliding polycarbonate doors or decorative radiators perform both a functional and aesthetic function here. This is an interior that combines modernity with the history of the place - consciously exposing the structural and finishing elements of the former building, while incorporating them into the language of contemporary design.
The kitchenette is kept in a contrasting black and white color scheme, which is warmed by wooden elements
© THEZA Architects
Consistent materials
In the project, special attention was paid to the selection of materials - so that on the one hand they pay respect to the historic structure of the building, and on the other hand they are durable and aesthetic for everyday use. As a result, the interior is an example of a successful dialogue between history and modernity. Bartlomiej Zabój relied on durable and aesthetically pleasing materials with a timeless character.
- The newly introduced materials were selected to continue the character of the building in which this interior is located, the architect emphasizes.
The historic elements were complemented with modern materials that continue the character of the building
© THEZA Architects
Thus, microcement was used on the floors, which not only conforms to the industrial style, but also ensures durability and ease of maintenance. In the bathrooms and kitchen, glazed tiles were used, laid in a distinctive way that refers to the historic brick layout. The upstairs bathroom featured rustic terracotta tiles, juxtaposed with a brick wall and a modern bathtub with a monolithic form - resulting in a harmonious, though contrasting composition. The built-in furniture is dominated by natural textures - wood, brushed copper or concrete - all kept in the spirit of minimalism. Kitchen fronts coated with aluminum and moisture- and damage-resistant MDF laminates increase functionality, and at the same time fit in with the loft character of the interior.
Rustic terracotta tiles were juxtaposed with a brick wall and a modern bathtub
© THEZA Architects
The apartment also features a modern, modular lighting system based on busbars (both ceiling and recessed), operating with low-current technology and allowing integration with smart home management systems. With this solution, users can independently select and configure luminaires, adapting lighting to changing needs.
The architect used a modular lighting system based on busbars
© THEZA Architects
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