The story of the creation of the interior of the Ukiel brewery's tasting room in Olsztyn, by Malwina Borowiec and Karolina Chodur of the Pigalopus studio, can only be told in context to thecontext to the parallel story of two friends, Leszek and Maciek, who started home-brewing pilsners, stouts, grodziskie and new wave beers in 2014 in a modest garage on Kolonia Mazurska in Olsztyn.
Craft beers from Olsztyn quickly made a splash, and were especially popular during the annual Mazurian cruises, while the enamored sailors demanded more and more and constant access to the beverages. Consequently, the inevitable step was to establish the author's brewery in Warmia, more specifically in a small abandoned habitat in Gutkowo and nearLake Ukiel, which became the obvious inspiration for the brewery's name. The next stage was the construction and adaptation work in 2016-2017 of a new brewery building, which was built on the site of a former barn that had been turned into a not very elegant tin building. The architecture of the brewery was to follow the typical Warmian tradition, thus using red brick and wood.
The interior of the Ukiel beer hall in Olsztyn
photo by Malwina Borowiec, Karolina Chodur © Pigalopus
view of the lake
It was at this point that the creators of the Pigalopus studio joined the work, designing not only the interior of the tasting room - the beer hall, but also the visual identity of the brewery, i.e. packaging, labels, website and logotype. The latter is simple and minimalist, a subtle reference to the Warmian surroundings, but without the literal use of landscape and natural elements. It is based on a circular plan with a graphic interpretation of the view of the lake - its calm surface has been built from lines and dots, arranged in various sequences, which are crowned by the inscription "ukiel" located above.
Brick wall with a line corresponding to the visual identity
Photo by Malwina Borowiec, Karolina Chodur © Pigalopus
horizontal colored line
As for the interior of the beer hall, which was realized in 2019, its aesthetics do not escape from the existing context. The architects subjected the interior of the former barn to a creative interpretation, exposing rather than blurring its character. The premises are dominated by a concrete ceiling and a wall with vertically stacked bricks that create a rhythmic division. This is repeated on the walls covered with white tiles, forming a lamella.
The wall with white tiles and details of the interior of the Ukiel beer hall in Olsztyn
Photo by Malwina Borowiec, Karolina Chodur © Pigalopus
Horizontal blue and maroon tile strips take the form of a ribbon connecting different materials. The dark terrazzo floor is a material complement to the interior and a background for the expressive colors. The interior's leitmotif is the horizontal color line, which is interwoven in the premises' design and alludes to the brewery's visual identity. The details of the premises have just used the color palette of the identification - green powder-coated metal elements of tables with wooden tops or characteristic colorful slats. We can also find here simple wooden oblong tables, black chairs and black hanging lamps, which correspond with the bar tiles of the same color and the metal structure suspended above it, used for hanging beer glasses.
A fragment of the interior and details of the Ukiel beer bar in Olsztyn
photo by Malwina Borowiec, Karolina Chodur © Pigalopus
local inspiration
The attraction of the Ukiel brewery, besides the possibility of tasting beverages in a great, simple interior, where you won't find a single unnecessary element, is also a beautiful orchard with old apple trees. Homemade cider is made from them. This kind of environment, a bit out of the way, calm and harmonious, open to nature, is an inspiration for the search for flavors and aromas. What is closest, local and sincere is what Ukiel Brewery is most passionate about.
Details of the Ukiel beer bar in Olsztyn
Photo by Malwina Borowiec, Karolina Chodur © Pigalopus
