One of the spaces we designed at the “Franjo Tuđman” Airport in Zagreb is also the Conference Center / VIP Lounge for the needs of the International Airport Zagreb d.d.
The primary requirement of the investor was the polyvalence and the flexibility of space and equipment. The reason is to satisfy several different functions on the same location. Most of the time the rooms serve as the VIP passengers lounge.But several times during the year it transforms into a conference hall. According to the previously mentioned usage, the space is also adequately equipped with multimedia devices.
The conference area is located on the second floor of the building along the southwest glass facade. Because of the longitudinal form of the space and one-sided natural lighting we had to find a way to successfully organize the required contents and create a comfortable, functional space. An additional limitation was also the division of the facade canvas into large fields.
The longitudinality of the space dictated the linear arrangement of the “lounge” and conference rooms along the façade in the natural illumination line. Thus forming the longitudinal communication / corridor. By meandering the contact partition between the hallway and the large spaces we incorporated the playfulness and further emphasized it using the play of light. With vertical glass wall slits, we let natural light into the corridor. And by choosing a certain pattern type of lighting, we broke the mass of the contrasting full wall.
At places of increased fluctuation of visitors, communication is widened while in other parts it retains the minimum width.
Large spaces were grouped into one polyvalent central zone while smaller and service rooms were positioned on the perimeter. Boundaries between large rooms are acoustic folding partitions that allow the transformation of the lounge into a conference hall.
The choice of materials and finishing in the interior has primarily derived from the functional requirements. Mainly acoustics, fire protection and ease of maintenance. The conference room space is acoustic linear perforated. While in the communication area we have a gypsum-plated lowered ceiling with integrated lighting. Equal treatment of ceiling and wall in the selection of lighting and finishing combined the ceiling and wall surfaces into one united and recognizable element.
The multi-functionality of the space itself has also been transferred to some of its elements. In example acoustic sliding partitions that also serve as a writing or projecting platform. The tables and chairs are foldable and the seating furniture is modular. This was done for easier and faster transformation of space and creating different configurations depending on the need.