{tag:studenci} - a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at Poznań University of Technology, took on the challenge of adapting the Malta shopping mall in Poznań, which has been undergoing demolition since December 2023. The project was developed under the supervision of Prof. Ewa Pruszewicz-Sipińska and includes two main concepts - the Malta Health Center, which is to take over recreational functions, and the Malta Unit, transforming a multi-story parking lot into a residential building.
mockup
© Przemyslaw Baranek
sustainable design with respect for the existing structure
The Malta Gallery adaptation project is part of a broader context of issues related to shopping malls in Poland, whose functioning, especially in times of changing shopping habits and post-pandemic reality, is increasingly coming into question. We have discussed similar issues on our portol, pointing out the need for a creative approach to such facilities. Przemyslaw Baranek's project is a response to these challenges and is an example of how abandoned commercial spaces can be transformed into sustainable places adapted to the needs of contemporary users/users.
maltese unit
© Przemyslaw Baranek
The primary goal of the project was to maximize the use of the existing building structure. In the case of the Malta Health Center, the functional assumptions included a combination of three main areas - medicine, recreation and sports. The new space included space for a variety of sports activities, a hotel for athletes, a pharmacy, treatment rooms and conference and exhibition space. Additional glazing in the ceiling of the latter will allow natural light to illuminate the space, highlighting the attention to the quality of the indoor environment.
health center - first floor
© Przemyslaw Baranek
An important element of this premise is also the enlargement of the catering area, which fits in with the idea of creating places conducive to social gatherings. The Malta Health Center is intended to be a space that combines health and recreational functions, while offering a modern and friendly infrastructure. It is a place to encourage both residents and tourists to spend time actively.
functional program
© Przemyslaw Baranek
modern brutalism
The Malta Unit, inspired by the modernist Marseilles Unit by Le Corbusier, transforms a multi-level parking lot into a unique residential building. The project not only refers to Le Corbusier's five principles, such as the vacant first floor and utility terrace on the roof, but also creatively interprets the Brutalist aesthetic. Traces of the building's original purpose remain visible, such as parking space markings, color scheme and column numbering. The green courtyard in the central part of the building, achieved by cutting out sections of the ceilings, is both a recreational space and an element that improves the interior microclimate.
unit plans
© Przemyslaw Baranek
The austere aesthetics of the interiors have been softened by elements in distinctive colors, which have been introduced as a leitmotif on individual floors. Each floor is assigned a different color, visible both in the finishing elements and in the window woodwork. The colorful windows have become a distinctive detail of the west elevation, creating an interesting contrast with the concrete body of the building.
The use of materials in the spirit of brutalism and exposing the rawness of the structure is a conscious design effort, which not only refers to the history of the building, but also emphasizes its unique character. On the lacquered floor, alongside the imperfections of the concrete, traces of former parking spaces and tire imprints were left, which enriches the interiors with a narrative layer.
facades
© Przemyslaw Baranek
innovative housing solutions
The structure of the building allowed the creation of three residential modules. The units were designed with attention to comfort and functionality, offering studio apartments of 29.8 m², units of 83.5 m² and the largest apartments of 130.4 m² with loggias of 26.6 m². Each floor included only the two largest apartments, which altered the rhythm of the building's facade.
Each apartment was designed to maximize the use of natural light. Additional glazing on the atrium side and the ability to ventilate the apartments emphasize the sustainable nature of the project. In the common areas, laundry rooms and storage rooms have been planned, which corresponds to modern housing standards and facilitates the daily functioning of residents/residents.
3D cross-section
© Przemyslaw Baranek
dialogue between brutalism and postmodernism
Przemysław Baranek's project is an example of combining the rawness of brutalism with modern aesthetic and functional ideas. Raw concrete was juxtaposed with intense colors, and modernist postulates met with postmodernist elements. The final result is a dialogue between the past and the future, showing how revitalized spaces can teem with new life.
visualization of the roof terrace
© Przemyslaw Baranek
The biggest contrast of this project is the juxtaposition of the alternative architectural vision with the current state of the building. The Malta shopping mall, like many other such facilities in Poland, has experienced problems resulting from changing market conditions. The adaptation of this building shows that architecture can offer answers to the challenges of transforming spaces that are losing their original functions.
interior visualization
© Przemyslaw Baranek
The diploma project is not only an architectural vision, but also a response to the changing needs of the city and its inhabitants/residents. It proves that history and innovation can go hand in hand, and that revitalized spaces can become vibrant, functional places that respond to contemporary urban challenges.