Could a unique food court be built in the place of a closed PRL store? How should the history of the place be combined with its modern character? This task was undertaken by architects from The Wall studio, transforming the Opole "delicatessen" into a unique food court.
"Delicatessen" was an iconic Opole place located on Krakowska Street, in the very center of the city. In the 1960s, it was the first self-service store in the city. It was closed only in 2015, so over the years it has managed to write itself in the collective memory ofOpole residents.
preserve the character of the place
Above all, the new owner wanted to preserve the character of the "deli." Architects from The Wall studio, together with the investors, decided to restore the original appearance of the several dozen-meter storefront, with the existing division and color of the frames. They decided on a soft color scheme based on black and white. Inside, however, far-reaching changes were needed - a general overhaul of the iconic "deli."
food court
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Pracownia architektury
The premises, which had been abandoned for several years, were in a terrible state. For several decades of the store's operation, no major work had been carried out inside. So we replaced the electrical and plumbing systems, while adapting them to the investor's needs. And of the more visible matters, we decided to restore the original appearance of the several dozen-meter display window. And the divisions used, and the color of the frames, as well as the signs visible above the windows, we carefully modeled on historical photos from the 1960s," recalls Jakub Flisiak of The Wall architecture studio, one of the authors of the project.
The doughnut shop is one of the premises located here
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Architecture Studio
It was equally important to properly adapt the new function to the immediate surroundings. "Delicatessen" was in fact located on the first floor of a multifamily building, which necessitated soundproofing the ceiling. The interior was also divided by the staircases leading to the apartments. So the architects decided to insert sanitary functions and social rooms. On the side of the building's courtyard, in turn, food and retail departments were arranged, and on the street side - an area for customers and strollers.
facade of the food court
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Pracownia architektury
combine modern with old
The process of combining modernity with what could be found in the "deli" required, first of all, the appropriate use of materials. Here it was decided to use solid wood, plywood, sheet metal and appropriate ceramics. An important element that was saved was the mosaic floor - along with preserving some of the cavities and old untrained repairs.
"Razowa" bakery
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Architecture Studio
At the same time, one of the important tasks was to individualize the appearance of each part of the premises. Thus, each of them received separately designed counters. In turn, the guest area was divided into sections by, among other things, varying the height of the furniture. In the cafe area there are sofas and low tables, over pizza you can sit at standard-height tables, while kraft beer is best sipped at a buffet with high hockers," explains Patrycja Sliż of The Wall architecture studio.
inside you will find six venues
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Architecture Studio
In the modern food court we will also find design classics from the communist period, including the "366" or "Zajączek" armchairs designed by Jozef Chierowski. The old blends directly with the new through much more modern design in the form of contemporary furniture, accessories or unique interior elements. An example is the stylized contours of the houses visible from the promenade.
"Razowa" bakery
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Pracownia architektury
Each signboard and zone, the architect said, has been tailored to individual restaurants or stores. There are six units on the premises, which in no way compete with each other, but in fact complement each other. And so we can easily read where the bakery, ice cream parlor or burger shop is located. The Opole food court is an interesting example of adapting an interior and creating a modern function and setting without forgetting what was here before. Reconciling what was with what is, allowed the architects to create a unique place on the map of Opole.
All the premises share one space, which has been adapted to their needs
photo by Magdalena Łojewska Vey photography, © The Wall Pracownia architektury
