K2 – an office building in Gdynia that resembles the famous eight-thousander

A new development in Gdynia – the K2 office building – is an example of how contemporary office buildings can complement the city’s modernist style. The investor – the Vastint company – and the architects from APA Wojciechowski Architekci opted for simple forms and ecology. Inside, it is white as if it were a real mountain, and ecological ceilings with Cradle To Cradle certification from Knauf Ceiling Solutions have appeared.

A newcomer on the office map of Gdynia – the K2 office building – although it has only just begun to be fully operational, it is already becoming a symbol. It is almost brimming with references, connections and features that make it worthy of the attention not only of tenants, but of all those who appreciate good architecture and ecological construction

A new point on the trail of modernism, this time in a business edition

Gdynia is referred to as the capital of Polish modernism not without reason. This European architectural style is visible in the city at almost every turn. Unfortunately, new projects created here do not always consistently refer to tradition. Such a mistake was not made by the investor of the new business building on Kielecka Street. The K2 office building constructed by Vastint Poland is a positive example of how to combine modern development and fully respect the city’s past. – We always try to create projects that are consistent with the surroundings and history of the place. Therefore, when we were commissioned to design K2 for Vastint Poland, we decided to refer to the tradition of Gdynia’s modernism, which shaped the character of this city. We were inspired by buildings from the 1930s, such as the Bankowiec, the ZUS office building or the Marine Station,” says Piotr Steckiewicz, lead architect at the Tricity branch of APA Wojciechowski Architekci

With its mass, details and colours, the office building refers to the ship style popular in the 1930s. But the whiteness of the façade and interiors are immediately associated with yet another symbol – the famous eight-thousander K2, snow-covered, high and towering among the clouds

Like the real mountain, the K2 building has plenty of space around it. It was created in the shape of the letter ‘H’, so the tenants of the office building are guaranteed good interior lighting

Ecological, calm interiors

Hartwig’s offices inside K2 are a bit like a cure for fast times. The calm, subdued colours of the space’s design create a calming effect and help to focus on work

Complementing the light-coloured walls and carpets are metal ceilings from the B-H 300 range by Knauf Ceiling Solutions. Their white colour enhances the effect of good interior lighting, as they have a high 85% light reflection

To keep things from becoming too monotonous, the designers introduced subtle colour accents into the interiors: turquoise chairs in the conference rooms or wooden wall cladding. However, these different colours of the furnishings harmonise with the overall interior design of the office building – they exude calmness and elegance

Vastint and the architects have also opted for something that is a must in modern construction, namely a strong focus on environmental friendliness. The building has already achieved LEED Platinum certification. Water saving, light saving and reduced heat loss have been applied. There is also a strong focus on making the building user-friendly. In the Hartwig company’s offices, one of the elements that help in this challenge is precisely the focus on acoustic friendliness through the installation of suspended ceilings with acoustic fleece inside the ceiling tiles, but also small wall absorbers

The façade of the building, which is not only decorative but also has a functional role. The white vertical panels and projecting cornices that decorate the building draw on the motifs of sails and naval architecture from the 1930s. At the same time, these panels act as sunshades that reduce the heat build-up in the interior and improve thermal comfort, explains architect Jafar Bajraszewski, partner and board member of APA Wojciechowski Architekci, who heads the studio’s Tricity branch

The Knauf Ceiling Solutions metal ceilings installed in the building have an advanced environmental certification, the Cradle To Cadle (C2C) label, confirming that the product complies with the idea of a closed loop economy

One other element sets them apart, they have a very high durability. – We refer a little to the symbolism of K2. The peak is regarded as one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world. And suspended ceilings made of metal are the most resilient and difficult to damage interior solutions. They are indestructible in spite of the passage of time, and have a guarantee of many years,” explains Dariusz Surdyk from Knauf Ceiling Solutions. And the fact that they are tiltable and can be replaced modularly makes it convenient for the company and the building manager to use them

Scandinavian attention to detail – after all, the building’s investor is a company with such a pedigree – can be seen throughout the office building. It has also crept into Hartwig’s offices. After quiet and concentrated work, users can count on a touch of sweet madness in the employee kitchen. Its interior is filled with chocolate-coloured furniture. Every office worker can replenish their energy reserves with a treat. And these are hard to resist when looking at the wall decorations of chocolate graphics

photo: Szymon Polański

source: Knauf Ceiling Solutions(www.knaufceilingsolutions.com/pl)

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