A few days ago we learned the results of the competition for the architectural concept of a new building for the Jan Długosz University of Humanities and Sciences in Częstochowa. The winning proposal was presented by architects from the Wroclaw-based P2PA studio, whose project, as they themselves write, is to become a home for its future users, a place that will meet their needs, and at the same time stimulate action and creativity.
The subject of the open, one-stage and implementation competition organized by UJD and SARP Częstochowa was the building of the Didactic Center for Medical and Health Sciences, which will stand in the southern part of the university campus on Genała Józefa Chłopickiego Street.
bird's eye view
© P2PA
As we read in the justification of the Competition Jury chaired by Andrzej Grzybowski, the work submitted by P2PA meets the requirements specified in the competition regulations to the greatest extent. The Jury particularly appreciated the high quality of the functional and spatial solutions, especially the proper zoning of functions and the clear and economical layout of internal communication; the contemporary, original form of the building, especially the solution of the vertical communication layout, and the fact that the building creates the possibility of achieving the optimal relation of expenses to costs, visible especially in the compact body of the building.
Considering the location of the building, the architects focused on achieving an urban closure of the square and creating a relationship with the existing university building on the other side. By orienting the facade of the new building parallel to the facade of the Faculty of Law and Economics building, the architects created a regular rectangular square.
visualization of the awarded block
© P2PA
The building was designed as a tower with a square base placed on a slightly wider pedestal. The solid creates a counterpoint to the object located on the opposite wall of the square. The gradation of the building into a high and low part and the introduction of an offset shapes the spatial dialogue between the objects," write architects from P2PA studio about the new building. - The proposed structure of the building meets the restrictive requirements of the UJD. Its simple shape and centralized layout with a staircase based on the principle of a double helix allow to optimize the space and maximize the potential of the development area while maintaining proper relations with the surroundings, the designers add.
scheme
© P2PA
Although, at first glance, on the elevations decorated with vertical prefabricated elements made of colored concrete, the division into individual floors is not visible, the functional separation of individual zones is clear - minimalist cornices divide the building into three parts - the first floor, two floors housing chemical laboratories and another three, which are occupied by offices.
The main entrance to the building is located on the first floor, in the arcade on the side of the newly shaped square, and on the side of Daniel Zbierski Street there is an entrance to the underground garage (the garage has been designed with the use of a parking platform system, which allowed to fit twice as many cars as in the classic solution). The first floor also includes a spacious lobby, lecture halls, checkroom, sanitary facilities and student zone facilities.
plan of level 0
© P2PA
Higher up, on the first and second floors, chemical laboratories have been placed, the rooms of which are arranged in two L-shaped groups. On the following floors of the building, offices for university staff were designed, placed along all four elevations of the building, around a central staircase, providing natural lighting in each room. In addition to the staircase shaping the interior layout, the architects also included two passenger elevators and a freight elevator.
left: 2nd floor plan; right: 4th floor plan
© P2PA
The structure of the building was based on a centrally located staircase based on the double helix principle. The proposed solution of vertical communication allows to locate in the building both an enclosed staircase required by regulations and an open communication more in line with the rank of the building. The use of the double helix model allows the two types of staircase to be "braided", resulting in significant space savings, the designers add.
If negotiations between the university and the awarded studio go well, construction is likely to begin next year and be completed in 2023. The estimated cost of the construction work is about 16 million zlotys.
