Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu and Aleksandra Warowna, architecture students at the Warsaw University of Technology, received an honorable mention in the international Culture Stations competition organized by YAC. Their project Colors of Elini is a proposal for changes in Elini, a small town located in Sardinia. The students made the narrow-gauge railroad station the focal point of the project, transforming it into a place full of culture and various activities that will revitalize the town and encourage people to visit it.
The goal of the Culture Stations competition, organized by the Young Architects Competitions platform, was to revitalize the small Italian town of Elini (along with the surrounding area) located in Sardinia. Participants were asked to reinterpret the former railroad infrastructures found in the area, in terms of culture and tourism. In this way, the narrow-gauge railroad stations and the buildings associated with them could be given new functions.
The goal of the competition was, among other things, to use the railroad infrastructure of Elini
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
Elini'srail infrastructure system is surrounded by art and culture, so the competition is a unique opportunity to create unusual routes for travelers who want to discover remote places, contemplate the moving landscape and enjoy creative works of art accompanied by the turtling of an old locomotive, the organizers' website reads.
The designers competing in the competition thus had unlimited possibilities - using the station as a museum, transforming "case cantoniere" (roadhouses) into apartments, warehouses into ateliers, or railroad parks as open-air theaters.
The highlighted project centers around a train station
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
honorable mention for PW students
The works submitted for the competition were evaluated by an international jury consisting of: David Telerman (Atelier David Telerman), Ricardo Bofill (Ricardo Bofill Taller De Arquitectura), Marijn Schenk (Next Architects), Giuseppe Zampieri (David Chipperfield Architects Milano), Edoardo Tresoldi, Paola Candiani (FAI), Stefania Aru (Sardinia), Antonio De Rossi (Turin Polytechnic University), Alessandra Casu (University of Sassari), Monica Stochino (MIBAC), Mario Luigi Carcassi (Sardinia), Agostino Cicalò (Nuoro Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Handicrafts, Agriculture), Matteo Agnoletto (University ofBologna).
The jury awarded three main prizes, two special mentions, and ten honorable mentions, among which was the Colors of Elini project by a team of female students consisting of: Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna.
The authors divided the town into three zones: the MIND, the BODY, the SPIRIT
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
changes in italian town
One of the main goals of the Colors of Elini project by students of the Warsaw University of Technology is to transform the town of Elini into a friendly space that caters to both residents and tourists. The main conceptual idea of the authors is to connect the town with the surrounding nature. The centerpiece of the project, the young architects made the stop of the Elini narrow-gauge railroad - where they placed an exhibition on the history of the place. They then proposed pavilions surrounding the stop to encourage tourists to visit and buy local products made by Elini's residents. The authors also included a design for a café and a building that could be adapted for various functions, such as a library, or an amphitheater.
The architects proposed a development concept for the Italian city divided into three zones focusing on assigned elements: MIND, BODY and SOUL, which they treated as areas with different functions.
The train station was transformed into a zone full of culture
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
zone - mind
At the Elini train station, architecture students have set aside spaces for: an exhibition on the history of the village, for social gatherings, greenhouses and multipurpose spaces. The latter can be used for performances, as well as places for relaxation. The new buildings, on the other hand, were designed in a timber frame construction with ropes installed.
The most important feature of the concept is that the buildings can be arranged according to the user's needs, as the structure allows the ropes to be moved. One of the functions of the building included in the project is the library, which is a place suitable for spending leisure time in it, while following and taking part in the events taking place in the square in front of it. This area can serve different functions at different times of the day - during the day it is a place for work, in the evening it can turn into a space for integration, the authors of the awarded project add.
Another of the functions is greenhouses with local vegetables and fruits, which are then served in the designed café. The students created an information desk, which is both an exhibition space and an entertainment venue.
The new facilities are made of a wooden structure with ropes
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
zone - body
Another of the zones focuses primarily on basic human needs. Taking care of sleep, satisfying hunger and proper physical activity become crucial here, the architects explain.
The architecture of the "body" zone focuses mainly on the reconstruction of municipal buildings that do not fit the style of the entire village. The authors propose covering the buildings with a wooden structure with ropes or replacing them completely with the designed structure.
An additional attraction is the exhibition space in the forest
© Julia Bujak, Maria Paczóska, Ezgi Sopaoglu, Aleksandra Warowna
zone-soul
An additional attraction planned by the authors for residents and visitors is an exhibition zone placed in the forest.
It is a place for contemplation of nature diversified with elements of colorful local handicrafts placed on trees. Since this zone is located further away from the village, it is a perfect complement to the "body" zone, which offers visitors a walk full of reflection, the authors conclude.
Staying in the Italian mood, read about THE LIFE FRAMES project. The proposal by students of the Wroclaw University of Technology to transform a former hydroplane hangar located in Pavia into a space full of cultural events received an honorable mention in the Hangar Ticinum competition.
