ADAPTING AND TRANSFORMING ABANDONED INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS INTO CONTEMPORARY OFFICE SPACES ON THE EXAMPLE OF PGNIG IN WARSAW, POLAND

Abstract

Adapting and reusing industrial architectural heritage represents great potential for architects, conservators, and civil engineers. The subject of this research is to examine the possibilities of adapting abandoned industrial heritage, as well as to examine the
conversion of former industrial structures into functions suitable to contemporary society. By interpreting theoretical foundations, this paper will talk about the importance of adaptive reuse of industrial heritage in the city of Warsaw, Poland. Analytical and descriptive methods will be used to process the chosen examples from Poland. This paper also analyses the principles of designing contemporary office spaces. As a synthesis of previous analyses, this article will elaborate on the author’s conceptual design of converting a historic industrial building into a contemporary office space, as well as the visual and functional connection of the building with other structures that are a part of the industrial site PGNiG (Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo) in Warsaw. It is a historic site that produces natural gas and crude oil. The purpose of this research is to find ways to adapt industrial heritage that can meet the needs of contemporary society, but will not damage the integrity and visual identity of historic buildings, by evaluating of design proposal will on two aspects 1) the aspect od the industrial building’s purpose and
2) the aspect of physical interventions. The basic results of this research suggest that it is possible to find favourable design solutions that are in line with the needs and habits of contemporary society and solutions that respect the visual integrity and architectural characteristics of industrial heritage buildings.