BRNO DESIGN DAYS

KOGAA studio was the designer for Brno Design Days, which run from 3 October to the 6 October 2019 at Bochner Palace in Brno, Czech Republic.

The palace, originally built between 1864 and1867 by architect Josef Arnold, is one of the oldest neo-renaissance buildings in Brno and it is now part of the largest redevelopment area of the City center. Set across three storeys, the 3,000 sq mt building’s interiors have been entirely re-imagined by us, for the temporary purpose of the four-days event.

Each floor follows a different function and program: the ground floor was a public space with a bar and design shop, the first floor was for the student’s exhibition and the workshops area, which turned into a catwalk in the evening. The attic was dedicated to the talks and presentations of the designers, being the longest of spaces and the only one able to accommodate the biggest crowd.

With a very tight budget and an ambitious brief, the design evolved from a principle of modularity and quick built-up processes. Inflatable elements, modular shelving systems with plexiglass sheets, light tubes, and breeze blocks were the main elements used for the installation.

The inflatable crosses were installed throughout the whole building, either to captivate people on entering the building, or as a practical element of closing spaces, or as an illumination fixture. By turning the cross in different directions and using it either hanging or on the floor, it gave the spaces a different meaning. The shelving system and plexiglass sheets created the base for the design shop, while the breeze blocks were used for the students’ exhibition.

Responding to the sacral and longitudinal nature of the ground floor, our colored plexiglass installation behaves as inverted stained glass in a cathedral, reflecting its varied colours on the surrounding surfaces, creating a new visual experience for the visitors.

Sustainable note: The plastic used to build the crosses was taken from other inflatable objects, giving each cross a slightly different look. Also, the plexiglass is used by our studio for making the mock-up of a new project. The plants and furniture for the installation were borrowed and safely returned to the owners.