The design of the apartment in the old Wilhelm Kopp Dyeworks in Bydgoszcz was inspired by elements of Japanese culture (in particular, the aesthetics of the Japanese garden, architecture and values). The author of the project is Aleksandra Dywel from the Bydgoszcz University of Technology, who created it under the guidance of dry Agnieszka Mierzwa.
Apartment in the old Wilhelm Kopp Dyeworks in Bydgoszcz by Aleksandra Dywel.
© Aleksandra Dywel
Inspirations and architectural concept
The design and its visuals quietly echo the principles guiding Japanese design. Large windows filling the apse wall from the floor to the ceiling, glazing, mirrors and water serve to introduce a considerable amount of natural light and disperse it throughout the room. This causes it to open up and optically enlarge. It creates an impression of soothing emptiness(negative space) allowing for tranquility and relaxation. Equally important is the functional and ecological aspect of skylights and the aforementioned types of lighting the space. This is because they minimize the need for artificial light sources, which positively affects both the well-being of the occupant and energy consumption.
Apartment in the old Wilhelm Kopp Dyeworks in Bydgoszcz by Aleksandra Dywel
© Aleksandra Dywel
Materials as a tool for contact with nature
Nature plays a huge role in the project. The materials used: wood, stone and bamboo are not just a superficial aesthetic layer. They come from certified sources and are used for the construction of furniture and decoration, as well as to delineate the space. The fabrics are naturally dyed, and the paintings that grace the interior are painted with charcoal. In accordance with the shizen principle, the design is harmonious with nature both aesthetically and in terms of ideas.
Apartment in the old Wilhelm Kopp Dyeworks in Bydgoszcz by Aleksandra Dywel.
© Aleksandra Dywel
Plan and spatial concept
The apartment was designed on the plan of a rectangle ending in a semicircle on one side. Opposite the semicircular ending, which delineates the lounge and dining area with an open kitchen placed close by, a rectangular extension of the plan was introduced. The vestibule is located there. Opposite the entrance to the apartment, next to the vestibule and the toilet, an elongated artist's studio with a flattened shape begins. It is open to the rest of the apartment thanks to openwork structural elements and decorations replacing a straight wall. Between the lounge area with dining room and kitchen and the art studio, there are three stone pillars, and between them rectangular panels with wooden frames filled with natural, light-colored fabric. Right next to it stands a pond with a mirror, whose surface reflects both the water and the studio space. In the space between the pond and the kitchen is a bath room. Opposite it is a dressing room, and between them is the entrance to the bedroom, the body of which is added to the main plan.
Apartment in the old Wilhelm Kopp Dyeworks in Bydgoszcz by Aleksandra Dywel
© Aleksandra Dywel
Ideas of Japanese culture
The apartment feels the aura of a Japanese garden, as if enclosed in a glass sphere. Just like in a Japanese garden, the most diverse textures and materials clash in the apartment. Water introduces life and movement, stone elements and walls a sense of stability and permanence and wood and plants are elements that fulfill the role of garden greenery. The design is at once modest in form and rich in idea and substance.
