Norblin factory. Way from brownfield to goldfield.

LIGHTING CONCEPT FOR THE REVITALIZED, 200-YEAR-OLD COMPLEX OF THE “NORBLIN, THE BUCH AND T. WERNER” FACTORY.

A LIVING FACTORY

After nearly 8 years of developing the project and obtaining permits, the Norblin Factory in Warsaw has started construction work. We continue to focus on the construction design and administrative and formal aspects to be able to give way to executive concepts for the use of space in the complex. Thanks to this, many ideas have been verified over the years, and some of them have even become obsolete due to the time of operation and political and economic changes. Lighting has always been used to design projects, and the investor himself was looking for an independent partner who would build and arrange the appearance of Norblin in a consistent manner.

The design of the arrangement of the FN complex was finally entrusted to STUDIO DL. It included lighting solutions for outdoor and artistic space at the functional, decorative, illumination and artistic levels.

The Norblin Factory is a complex with an environment in Warsaw, a gastronomic zone, a BioBazar, a cinema, a shopping center, office buildings and the exclusive Norblin Factory Museum. An authentic factory for the Braci Buch Plater Factory, which was a continuator in Warsaw from 1830, a factory of Gustaw Henniger’s new silver products. Today, in this place, new investors – a company from Capital Park are writing a new section enriching the history of Warsaw. he Norblin Factory Museum works as part of the revitalization of the former factory where plated products were produced. The unique thing is that the exhibits are in many places throughout the entire complex of the Norblin Factory.

EVERY SPACE IS A CONCEPT

They consider the spaces of the complex as specific concepts that are unique in themselves and attract a lot of people. Our role was to build visual consistency.

We have built a concept in which machines and devices located in the interiors of the shopping mall, office or gastronomic part, but also in the museum itself, have been displayed in an innovative, characteristic way for Norblin. This coherent image consists of lighting from a historical luminaire equipped with lamps with amber lighting, a set of projectors illuminating the exhibit and cool white backlight from the floor level (light opposite to orange on the color palette). Three elements are used in the lighting of all exhibits, which gives the museum its rhythm and allows for the high value of historic artifacts. On a daily basis, the amber content is dominant, followed by how the blue component is attached.

LIGHTING PROJECT GRID

The concept is based on three pillars: History, Future and People. The “Living Factory” approach focuses on the people who create this place, are its purpose and the purpose for which the factory returns in a new form. Focusing on the human, applying the use of lighting to the needs, to provide places, to apply technology to make life, taking care of the natural environment and the urban fabric.

The general idea of the lighting concept is light that envelops people, but does not disturb them and shows the monuments of technology in a new light. To achieve this effect, a lighting system was proposed that ensures maximum glare reduction, creating a unique atmosphere and economical use of light.

THE ATMOSPHERE AND COHERENCE OF THE NORBLIN FACTORY AREA

The concept assumes that the main light of the facades of typical office buildings is the internal lighting of the rooms, visible through the glass. The background for the silhouette of historic buildings was created by highlighting elements resembling corten steel, located in the lower part of the facades of office buildings.

The historic gate to the complex has been marked with a negative effect. The light inside the Werner passage will emphasize the darker surface of the gate. In addition, it was proposed to illuminate the internal surfaces of passages from ground-mounted luminaires.

The battery tower has become a local reference point in the urban space. The lighting of this element can be a counterpoint to the rest of the area, for this purpose RGBW luminaires were used, giving the opportunity to change the color depending on the event at the Factory.

FOCUS ON DETAILS

Passage parallel to ul. Prosta is the most important element of the external area of the Norblin Factory in terms of communication. Due to the accumulation of functions, historical and architectural value, the lighting concept assumed balanced, unobtrusive lighting. The basis of the concept was lighting built on a lightweight structure, mounted on ropes. The aim of the solution was a delicate, even base light, meeting the requirements of the standard, while subtly illuminating the lower parts of the facades to improve the safety and legibility of the place. An important aspect of rope lighting is the use of small-sized luminaires with a recessed light source in the housing. Thanks to this treatment, only the effect of lighting is visible (illumination of the floor and the surroundings), and the light sources themselves are invisible.

In the area of the investment, decorative lighting was used, referring to the one that was visible in the archival photographs. The classic form of “lanterns” mounted on the historic walls of the street will fulfill the aesthetic function – small architecture, at the same time, together with the illumination of perennials and shrubs, it will create an atmosphere of coziness.

Offices, and in particular their common spaces, are the showcase of both the location and the tenants. It was necessary to show the utmost care for energy efficiency in office spaces and implement the entire project in accordance with BREEM standards.

The concept also included functional lighting for the technical areas of the complex, such as the lighting of the underground car park or the entrance to the supply garage. Efforts were also made to create details with light in such places, such as highlighting the original brick side walls.

NORBLIN APPRECIATED

The revitalized space of the former Norblin Factory has won numerous awards, e.g. Urban Land Institute (ULI) award. The implementation ranks among the three best European projects and among the six global ones.

other awards and distinctions:

• EuropaProperty 12th Annual CEE Investment Awards 2022 – Refurbishment / Retrofit Project
• European Property Awards 2022-2023 – Five Stars – Best Commercial Renovation / Redevelopment Poland
• 2022 ULI Europe Awards for Excellence

• 2022 ULI Global Awards for Excellence
• Eurobuild Awards 2022; New Office Building of the Year, CEE Region
• CEEQA Awards 2022; Retail Development of the Year
• CIJ EUROPE HOF Awards 2022; Best of the Best Legacy Development of the Year
• Property Design Awards 2022; special prize

• PZITB competition “Construction of the Year 2021”; 1st Degree Award
• CiJ Awards Poland 2021; Best Legacy Development of the Year