CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects create this Showroom using Angled and Affixed Individual Seats

FDT Bureau

Architecture firm CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects & Urban Designers from Brno have transformed a former car showroom on the outskirts of a housing estate into a space for the MY DVA group, specializing in office, school and metal furniture production. The initial one-story building with an unappealing aesthetic has been turned into a structure with a distinctive facade composed of over 900 black plastic seats. This abstract façade not only provides a memorable visual but also acts as a unique advertising medium for the company. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

Following a simple interior refurbishment, a versatile showroom had been created to showcase different segments of the company’s production in themed settings. Vinohrady, one of Brno’s oldest housing estates built in the early 1980s, is the location of the building. The car showroom had been established in the 1990s, forming part of a row of nearby commercial buildings along the four-lane Zarosicka road, which hasn’t significantly contributed to the area’s appeal. The outdated condition of the building both technically and aesthetically no longer suited the community’s needs. As it was a temporary rental investment, and the firm was already utilizing the premises, the solution had to be cost-effective and swift.

The material choice, aimed at enhancing the building on a limited budget while aligning with the company’s production, resulted in a cladding of a single product: black plastic seats priced around 80 CZK/1 piece. This cladding creates an abstract texture that reflects the interior activities without the need for additional banner advertising. According to the studio, they used a basic form of an interior chair called Vicenza which the supplier delivers on a regular basis. In this case, however, they used black granulate for the outdoors as it is resistant to different weather conditions, especially UV light. Each seat is fixed onto a steel structure attached to the façade, allowing for easy replacement in case of damage and straightforward façade cleaning using a high-pressure cleaner.

The interior concept, constituting the project’s second phase, is divided into a showroom and offices with employee facilities. The interior of the building underwent significant demolition. The showroom’s presentation space had been created by expanding the former entrance hall in the centre of the layout, bordered by polycarbonate partitions. The flooring is uniform with white screed, retaining the existing fair-faced concrete panels on the ceiling while new wiring remains exposed.

The space incorporates three circular galleries representing the three production segments: school furniture, office furniture and design pieces. These circular spaces are defined by full-height white textile curtains, which can be drawn shut or left open. Each circular cutout represents a different setting, with flooring, lighting methods and light colours chosen to mimic natural environments corresponding to the furniture’s purpose. These spaces can be utilized for product displays, art installations, communal areas or client interactions. The entire area operates like an adaptable gallery, designed to flexibly suit changing needs.

Image credit: CHYBIK + KRISTOF Architects