BASE4WORK BRATISLAVA || Revival of a functionalist heating plant into a modern co-working centre
One of the few industrial architectural monuments left in Bratislava, this functionalist heating plant originally designed by Dušan Jurkovič underwent extensive renovation and reopened to the public as a modern co-working centre – Base4Work.
Designed by Studio Perspektiv, the new five-storey building is placed in the heart of the boiler and turbine hall, creating comfortable workspaces unified by a motif of craftsmanship and contemporary materials in their raw essence form.
The renovation took 3 years and is the second co-working space for Base4Work. The developer’s vision was to create an inspiring and diverse workspace that would provide a background to connect different user groups – from corporate clients to start-ups and freelancers, in a unique environment of a national cultural monument.
The innovative co-working space design solution recognizes the tradition of the national monument.
Open spaces, large-format windows and natural light give the interiors a very different look and feel in comparison to the building’s exterior.
“When designing the interior of the coworking space, we perceived the context of the original monument and the new building. We tried to complement the space and relate to it both in style and in the geometry of the new elements. In addition, we wanted to make sure that both the new and original parts would be clearly recognizable – we didn’t want to imitate the original work,”
The generous space is underlined by massive concrete hoppers.
The interior design was conceived to ensure that the original parts remain visible and the imprint of Dušan Jurkovič is preserved as much as possible.
DF Creative Group’s architectural solution uses the free internal space in the boiler and turbine halls to incorporate new independent structures. This execution clearly separates and distinguishes the historic structures from the new ones. Other industrial elements of the heating plant were also used to pay homage to history – the entire interior is dominated by concrete hoppers, with the original crane forming the atypical open ceiling of the shared office.
The diversity of the interior spaces also meets the requirements of a wide range of users. On each of the floors, there are fixed desks, hot desks, separate offices, a phone booth, a workshop room, and meeting rooms with a capacity of 4 to 18 people. Clients can also use the community lounges or the meeting and networking zone during the day.
The material and colour palette play a fundamental role in transforming the industrial monument into a welcoming co-working space.
The community centre is located on the second floor, which combines a lobby with a café and workplaces. Perspektiv presents Dušan Jurkovič’s extensive work by using graphic elements in the interior. The authors’ motifs are inspired by the architect’s style and its evolution over time. Perspektiv decomposes the original decorative ornaments into prime factors in the form of light elements on the walls or engraved cabinets.
The use of appropriate materials and colours is an important factor to transform the industrial monument into a welcoming, comfortable workspace. The colour palette is based on the shades of terracotta, characteristic of the building’s shell, complemented by muted deep tones of blue, green and carbon black. The ceilings remain open, while the floors in the common zones accentuate the wood or large-format ceramic tiles.
Perspectiv experimented with glazed flooring, exposing the original structure beneath the meeting room floors.
The use of glazed flooring in the meeting rooms shows the original inside of the concrete hoppers to create iconic spaces everyone wants to see.
The generosity of the space is underlined by the massive concrete hoppers, which were originally used to store solid fuels. The architects managed to place some of the meeting rooms inside them. The most popular for users so far seems to be the two meeting rooms on the fifth floor. “This is where we took advantage of the location and experimented with glazing in parts of the floor. The result is an iconic space that everyone wants to see. Even those who are afraid of heights,” says architect Antal.
The meeting rooms and separate offices place emphasis on acoustics, which is provided not only by the carpets but also by the wall coverings. In line with their style, the architects used recycled and natural materials. The environmentally friendly Re:felt panels are made from recycled PET bottles. The boutique mood of the entire interior is enhanced by the roof terrace with an adjacent bar. The architects used the building’s complex structure to the clients’ advantage, creating comfort zones in several places. The flexibility of the space is appreciated not only by the developer but also by the first tenants.
The renovated space also includes the DOT. Espresso Bar & Contemporary Art Gallery, an event space, and a restaurant from the Medusa gastro group network. This important icon of Bratislava is thus coming to life again, becoming a cultural epicentre and a valuable contrast to the modern architecture of the surrounding buildings. Thanks to the renovation, the new appearance of Jurkovič’s heating plant has reinforced the importance of preserving the original buildings and given its new tenants an opportunity to experience what it’s like to work and play in a piece of history.
The historic industrial monument creates unique architectural details such as round skylights in the exposed concrete ceiling.
PROJECT DETAILS
Studio: Studio Perspektiv [interior design of Base4Work], DF Creative Group [architectural solution of the building conversion]
Author: Ján Antal, Martin Stára, Barbora S. Babocká [Studio Perspektiv] and Martin Paško [DF Creative Group]
Co-author: Designer of the building envelope renovation: PAMARCH
Design Team: Jakub Budaj, Silvia Snopková [Studio Perspektiv]
Project Location: Bottova 1/1, 811 09 Bratislava
Project Country: Slovakia
Project Year: 2019
Completion Year: 2021
Usable Floor Area: 3900 m²
Photographer: BoysPlayNice
Collaborator: Construction contractor: ENG2 Project Management
