HUTA BAR is a fresh proposal on the map of Wrocław – an open-air gastronomic and cultural space located at 241 Grabiszyńska Street, on the site of the former Hutmen plant. Over 5,000 square metres of raw, industrial container fabric combine gastronomy, music, culture and recreation. The project by the CUDO: i TEAM I studio opens up to the rhythm of the city, the festival atmosphere and urban freedom, creating an alternative to traditional beach bars.
The project was created in a conservation area, which required special respect for the industrial heritage of Wrocław. The container layout, lighting and spatial relationships were inspired by the shed roof of the former Hutmen plant, built in 1918 as a copper smelter. The characteristic curves and rhythm of the roof tiles were transferred to the modularisation of the containers, creating a coherent narrative between history and modernity.
Materials and aesthetics
The whole project was realised in a spirit of recycling and industrial honesty. Concrete in the floors, raw wood in the furniture and platforms, brick on parts of the facade, and woven and welded mesh are clear references to the factory character of the site. The container frames made of steel, kept in neutral grey tones, allow colourful lighting installations and dynamic dining concepts to be exposed.
Functionality of the container city
The HUTA BAR is made up of around thirty interconnected modules, ten of which are dedicated to various catering stalls and three are full service bars. However, the space interweaves chillout, event, leisure and service zones so that visitors can move seamlessly between feasting areas and vantage points on city life. Above visitors’ heads runs a system of footbridges made of container frames, allowing them to circulate comfortably and discover more nooks and crannies of this unusual town.
Design challenges
Working on the open space required consideration of all external infrastructure elements, such as kerbs, ground slopes, sewer manholes and streetlights. Designing in winter conditions, when nature conceals the actual extent of the trees and their future coordination with the container layout, proved particularly challenging. However, the team of architects developed a framework for the development that can be vibrant for the local community throughout the season and provides an inspiring backdrop for creative activities.
Art and the rhythm of the city
The focal point of HUTA BAR is an artistic installation made of recycled planks, created by Michal Niadziewicz and Daniel Piątek. This sculpture is a symbol of openness to the gesture, voice and gaze of each visitor. It is the rhythm of the city – music and conversation – that has been smoothed into the raw forms of the containers to create a harmonious meeting space.
HUTA BAR is not only a place for summer gatherings, but also a format for intergenerational events: pop-ups by local artists, evening DJ sets, cooking workshops, film screenings and temporary installations. Every day from midday to late evening, the container city pulses with the atmosphere of an urban festival, attracting both the inhabitants of Wrocław and tourists hungry for fresh experiences.
project: CUDO:, TEAM I
photos: Monika Luniak
location: GRABISZYŃSKA 241, WROCŁAW
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