RE:FABRIKA

FAST VUT - Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Department of Architecture

Project idea

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Former wool factory. Today an empty and decaying building. I am giving it a new function that will turn the whole object into a manifesto of sustainable approach. It will do the education to the themes - such as recycling, upcycling, or sustainable design - through theory, subsequent experience, exhibition and research studio. Lectures, concerts, or theatre plays will take place in the café. That will attract target groups that would not otherwise come by.
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Project description

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/Urban solution/
Formerly, part of an organically grown area of wool factory with amazing genius loci. Today, on the tail of a huge scale construction - new office park. I want to sew on it using foothpaths and mainly park, into which I opened the object. I also created an access to the bank of the phenomenal urban river Ponávka.

/Architectural design/
The heating plant is gradually surrounded by a new office park. I'm not trying to match it and incorpotate the re:Fabrika into it, but rather vice versa. I am offering a different approach, using the main qualities of the building, adding another layer. It consists of a collection of things, furniture and materials that are reused, repaired, recycled or even rescued from demolitions and inheritances. They are prefered over some new ones. Criterium of the choice is quality and frugality. But sometimes new things are needed ...

/Constructional and material solutions/
... I choose them to be as simple as possible, financially and energetically effective, from recyclable
materials such as wood, steel or glass. Or, for example, (still little explored) recycled plastic, as in
in the form of textile from pet fibers and in the form of boards of regranulate.

/Operational-layout solution/
The visitor enters the foyer from the main entrance. There is a bar belonging to the café, which also serves as an information desk for the whole re:Fabrika. Besides that, the building provides a clear orientation system.
Its main motive is colored fibers unfolding from spools. They will lead you along the staircase up to the attic, where the tour begins. You can also use a renewed cargo/ evacuation lift. I try to divide the original spaces with beautiful beamed ceilings as little as possible. I leave them open and furnish by as much mobile furniture as possible. Each floor is in about one quarter always parted with original wall. It defines the staircase space together with another room. The visitor has the opportunity to get familiar with the topic in the library - to learn something from the illustrative animation in the screening room - make something themself in the workshop - to watch the exhibition of sustainable design in the gallery - get a gift in the design shop - peek into the kitchen f the research design studio - listen to a concert or a lecture from the balcony - or just have a hell of a good cup of coffee and a cherry pie!
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Technical information

site: Mlýnská/ Brno/ Czech Republic

year: autumn semester/ 2019

type: reconstruction/ interior design