Officyna

And to be exact, the inspiration derives from the interiors of Haus Rentsch by Richard Neutra, Seagram Building by Ludwig Miesa van der Rohe, and from a house on the Miami beach, designed by Jerrold E. Lomax. The most interesting local inspirations were found in the excellently-maintained interiors of staircases in modernistic tenement houses in Gdynia.

The inspirations did not only result in the decision-making process as to which material to apply – terrazzo, black ironwork, or wood, but also in decorative designs, such as geometric forms or stripes. The design was also influenced by the lounge interior of hotel Claridges in London, rebuilt in 1930, and more precisely, the intriguing decorative motives on the floor coverings.

Decorations in the Officyna lounge, designed by Aldona Zwolak, were made from Italian terrazzo or artistic glass. The floor covering is adorned within the lounge, right by the main entry to the building, at the intersection of paths created by the darker colour of terrazzo. The larger area with a geometric composition of squares, triangles, and stripes, is visible by the entrance, with a smaller surface of stripes only to be found by the elevators. The same geometric motives were also used behind the reception desk counter in the form of a stripe made up of fused glass, crafted by a local artist – Edyta Barańska. Thanks to it, the decoration is a bas-relief. The use of the fusing technology makes it possible to generate intriguing painting effects – applied colours, thanks to the addition of minerals or metals, are not homogenous, and create unique discolouration.