Work submitted for the competition
"Best Interior Diploma 2020/2022".
As part of my bachelor's thesis, I am designing the attic of a building at 14 Walnut Square in Gdansk. Due to the current state of the building, I took the liberty of interfering with its structure, without disturbing the beautiful historic facade. In order to illuminate the space in question, I raised the building's roof, and filled in the gaps with glazing that illuminates the interior while contrasting with the building's mass. The assigned design theme was Generation XYZ and the architecture of change. In the context of generations, I decided to focus on a problem that affects people of all ages.
The author designed an attic in a historic building
© Zuzanna Denysiuk
In Poland, the topic of mental health is marginalized, and depression is still a taboo subject. The change I would like to bring through architecture is to create a space for people struggling with this type of problem, where they would experience positively impactful architecture, while socializing through a variety of activities. Social relationships are a very important part of the treatment process for depression, a sense of belonging to a group and having friendly people around can act as a kind of protective barrier.
projection of the arranged attic
© Zuzanna Denysiuk
Based on an analysis of research, conversations with a psychotherapist and people who have undergone depression, I determined certain conditions that a given design must meet:
- illumination of the space with natural or artificial light (from late autumn to early spring),
- contact with nature - opening the space to the outside landscape - the outflows of the Motława River and the Bastion of St. Gertrude in Gdansk,
- access to clean air - purifying the air with plants and creating adequate air circulation,
- clear layout - creating a symmetrical and clear functional layout,
- Providing "do-social" and "de-social" spaces through which the user can gradate the intensity of
interactions.
the most important activity is the cultivation of plants by means of hydroponic systems
© Zuzanna Denysiuk
Despite fulfilling the guidelines for the above points, it became equally important to encourage users to socialize. The interior of the loft was to serve as a daytime space, replacing the isolation in the house, complementing drug therapy or psychotherapy. In selecting activities, I was guided by the possibility of integrating the groups by working together. The first and most important activity is growing plants using hydroponic systems, an activity open to all, providing direct contact with nature. The yields produced by the plants can be used for the next activity, which is to be a gastronomic workshop. Preparing food together encourages integration, and eating the food increases endorphins. The aforementioned activities have been supplemented with literary, musical and movement activities so that everyone can find their way in this space.
part for gastronomic workshops
© Zuzanna Denysiuk
The interior is divided into two parts: northern and southern. The northern part has a catering function, it is where cooking workshops are held and meals are eaten. The southern part has two levels: at the level of the third floor there are workshop areas separated from each other by mobile partitions with decorative stained glass windows, and a hydroponic system with meeting places. The wooden mezzanine structure features balconies and enclosed quiet zones.
workshop zone and tranquility zone
© Zuzanna Denysiuk
The main materials used in the interior are: brick - a tribute to the building, it provides the basis for the space; wood - a warm material, considered healing; glass in various forms (including stained glass ) - to illuminate the space while giving it privacy; steel - which metaphorically shows that cool surfaces balance the warmth of the space and should not be feared.
I hope the project will contribute to creating better conditions for people struggling with depression, encourage the public to take an interest in the quality and value of architecture in treatment, and communicate the ideological goal of striving for an empathetic view of the other.
Susanna DENYSIUK
Illustrations: © Author
