Black Star Car Wash by GRETAPROJECT

There was a challenging and interesting task in this project - to create a unique carwash space, resembling an art object and having a “wow” factor, but at the same time, it was crucial to save the functionality of space and provide the proper work setting for the entire facility.

Architect: GRETAPROJECT
Client: Black Star
Year: 2018
Total area: 1,200 sq.m.
Team: Margarita Denisova, Maxim Kashin
Photography: Mikhail Loskutov

From the architect: The difficult thing about this project was in the facility location – it is an underground part of the building in the city center, that means facing the problem of low ceilings, plenty of communication and the absence of natural light. Thus the intention was to expand the space visually and change its geometry. 

The concept of the interior is a transformation and refraction of simple geometry of space by the shape of the pattern. The idea is performed by the combination of the dark graphite color, bright calligraphy composition, and light installations. Taking into account the facility function CARWASH and inspired by WYNWOOD in Miami, GRETAPROJECT created a special calligraphy pattern that consists of regularly repeated client’s label name BLACK STAR. Graphic and at the same time geometric pattern creates a memorable setting and expands enclosed space visually.

The BLACK STAR label symbol is the black sun which was used to create the lighting structure in the form of a ring in the washing boxes. As for the entrance zone, the X-formed lighting was installed to form a contrast of the symbols. To make the interior more energetic, the linear lamps are located at 45-degree angle on both sides of the entrance and exit. It creates the visual movement of the visitor’s sight and leads the visitor to the main part of the facility. The detailing light sign is located near the entrance of the carwash, and thus it is the hallmark of the project attracting visitors’ sight.  

The cafe interior’s concept is a prolongation of simple space refraction by sophisticated geometry of the pattern applied to it. Thus, regular rectangular forms are perceived as complex geometry creating the visual effect and drawing visitors’ attention. 

In this project, the designers wanted to show how the usual forms of space transform by applying flat geometry and how the color influences the perception of the space.

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