The regeneration of derelict industrial sites is increasingly serving as a catalyst for the creation of new cultural spaces. Antoni Mario Kołodziejek’s engineering project, prepared at the Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Arts in Poznań under the supervision of Prof. Dr hab. Eng. Arch. Stanisław Sipiński, is part of this trend, proposing the transformation of the buildings of the former Hermanka Mill into a complex dedicated to Poznań’s jazz scene. The designer seeks to combine the preservation of architectural heritage with the need to create a space that supports education, creativity and the presentation of music – from rehearsals, through concerts, to professional sound recording.
The Industrial Heritage of Wilda
The subject of this study is the two surviving buildings of the former mill on Fabryczna Street in Wilda, built in 1895 as part of a larger complex associated with grain processing. The granary and the residential and– farm building, now listed as historic monuments, exemplify late 19th-century brick industrial architecture in the Rundbogenstil style, with characteristic semi-circular windows, arcaded friezes and clearly defined divisions on the façade. Following the partial demolition of the complex after a fire in 2003, the buildings remain in a state of progressive disrepair, serving as a backdrop to large-scale commercial developments. The project aims to reintegrate them into the urban fabric by assigning them a cultural function.
Jazz Cultural Centre
The architect has developed a concept for a comprehensive jazz cultural centre, comprising concert, educational and studio spaces. The main building will feature a foyer with a cloakroom, a café on the balcony and a concert hall with a multi-level auditorium layout and a stage measuring 10 × 4 m. The upper floors house balconies with boxes and a viewing mezzanine, whilst the granary’s basement is planned to accommodate an intimate stage for smaller events. The second building serves administrative and educational purposes – it houses practice rooms and a recording studio with a control room. The complex is complemented by technical, catering and logistical facilities, and the spatial layout has been designed to be clear and intuitive for users.
The mill in a photograph from 2008:
A key element of the concept is the integration of the project into the wider urban context. The site development aligns with one of the city’s award-winning development concepts for the Wolne Tory area, which envisages the transformation of post-industrial sites into a new city district. In this vision, the buildings of the former mill could become an important cultural hub and a space that revitalises the neighbourhood, adjacent to the planned Hermanka Square.
Structure, acoustics and interior aesthetics
The regeneration required significant structural intervention. The wooden storage compartments in the granary were removed, creating an open space without internal partitions. New structural elements were introduced, including reinforced concrete load-bearing walls and prestressed slabs, whilst the roof was designed as a system of timber girders forming a coffered structure inspired by the historical division of the chambers. One of the main design challenges was to reconcile the requirements of modern energy efficiency with the preservation of the historic building – in selected areas, internal insulation comprising highly insulating aerogel mats was used, allowing the original brick façades to be preserved.
Acoustic adaptation was crucial for the concert hall’s function. Acoustic brick, sound-absorbing plasters, textile elements and solutions enabling digital acoustic correction and additional soundproofing were employed. The interiors have been kept in a raw aesthetic, showcasing the historic brick and timber, juxtaposed with modern materials – steel, microcement and burgundy colour accents. The contrast between the original structure and the contemporary additions was deliberately employed to ensure that the intervention was clearly discernible and did not distort the character of the historic architecture.
The potential for regeneration for Poznań’s jazz scene
The result of this work is a coherent functional, aesthetic and technical concept, demonstrating how derelict post-industrial buildings can be given a new lease of life through thoughtful adaptation. Antoni Mario Kołodziejek’s design highlights the potential of the Hermanka Mill buildings as a space supporting the development of Poznań’s jazz scene, whilst also serving as an example of a sustainable approach to the conservation and reuse of architectural heritage. The visual study presented here forms part of a wider project, which also includes research into the history of jazz in Poznań and an analysis of the processes involved in the regeneration of industrial sites.
university: Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Arts in Poznań
faculty: Architecture and Design
level of study: Bachelor’s (Engineering) degree
supervisor: Prof. Stanisław Sipiński, PhD, Eng., Arch.
See also: History | Metamorphosis | Brick | Poznań | whiteMAD on Instagram
