Center for Cultural Initiatives in Komorow
The genesis of the project was to create a space that would complement the character of Komorow, enhance ties between residents and bea lever for the commune to flourish.
Idea and concept
Created architecture gives the possibility of spontaneous meetings, organizing classes and performances. Concept is directly connected with the nature and history of Komorow and encourages to spend free time, and help to establish neighborly relations. Such places are needed in small comiunities and definitely increase the comfort and quality of life of local residents and allow them to be even more connected with their place of residence.
Form of the building itself is simple and refers to architecture from the 1930s. It is enriched about modern energy-saving and ecological technologies and materials. The building of the Cultural Initiatives Center was inspired by the summer tradition of the city Komorow housing estates and provides a sense of familiarity, peace and a specific idyll. The landscaping around has a soft form of ribbons leading through the trees. It complements the traditions of Komorów and the Center of Cultural Initiatives itself. It allows you to organize outdoor activities as well as private recreational meetings.
It was important that architecture did not overshadow the nature of the plot, especially the existing old trees, but directed it to the surrounding nature. That is why building was designed as a kind of foyer for the park. The entrance hall leads to the park and is an extension of the marked walking paths. During designing, it was very important to leave the existing stand and enter the volume so that it harmonizes with the surroundings.
The park has a loose and soft form, and its functional division was imposed by marked paths. The northern part of the plot is the technical part of the park. The main entrance area is in front of the building. Directly at the building, on the south side, there are recreational, “holiday” zones in the form of a terrace and a free green space for picnics and organization of activities or events in the open air Center. In the southern part, we have designed a playground for children and teenagers in the form of a skatepack and playground. Between the high stand we proposed health and fitness pathways with appropriate devices.
Function
It was very important to provide the residents of Komorow with a variety of functions and ways of using the Center, which is why the building plan allows for freedom in the division of space and provide accessibility for people with reduced mobility. The possibility of increasing and reducing the area of rooms as well as hidden places allowing for private spending of time and opening to the outside of the building were designed
In addition we have also proposed an exhibition zone, private reading areas, a sensory garden on the roof of the spectacle hall and a green terrace on the south side.
Thanks to the clear division of functions, it is possible to conduct several activities simultaneously and use of all rooms. At the same time, functional modification was introduced by introducing sliding walls. We designed the possibility of connecting the spectacle hall with the entrance hall, division of workshop and exercise rooms, as well as opening the entrance hall to the terrace and using the correlation of the building’s interior and exterior.
Form
It was important to find the right scale of the building and, above all, to respect the existing stand. Due to the rich program and thinness of the space, two floors of the building were introduced – the ground floor and attic. Formation began with entering the given program onto the plot and maneuvering it between existing trees. Due to the type of function, three main bodies with similar surfaces were determined. The façade was designed just like the whole assumption from natural materials – spruce, it is complemented by large glazing from the west and south. The north and east façades are more basic. Lightness of the facade is given by the vertical arrangement of boards and the division into two parts.
