A number of teams from Poland participated in the Buildner platform's Caramel Shore Traveller Rooms international competition for the design of holiday homes. We present the work Green Cabin by Antoni Grzeskowiak, which was shortlisted for the competition. The proposal of a student of Poznan University of Technology is a praise of simplicity, but also of modern, nature-based technologies.
The object of the competition was to design five small rest cabins that could be built in the Latvian town of Skrunda, on the banks of the Vidava River. The river is known for having the widest waterfall in Europe, and its light caramel-colored sands create an idyllic landscape frequented by tourists. The challenge was to propose resort facilities (one cottage for two people) and all supporting infrastructure, including a harbor, sauna, and utility rooms. The design had to be innovative, belong to the context of the surroundings and Latvian tradition, and be sustainable.
Green Cabin project on the Vindava River
© Antoni Grześkowiak
success of polish teams
The submitted works were evaluated by a jury consisting of: Nancy Beka (Studio Edwards, Australia), Willem van Bolderen (Studio Puisto Architects, Finland), Mari Hunt (b210, Estonian Academy of Arts) Pablo Larroulet (LARROU ARQ - Pablo Larroulet Arquitectura, Chile), Marco Lavit (Atelier LAVIT, France), Jordi Riembau Ribot andMiguel Rusca Mestre (Nordest architecture SLP, Spain), Ahti Sepsivart (artist, architect from Estonia). The jury awarded three main prizes and two special prizes - the BB Student Award and the Aapparel Sustainability Award.
The so-called short list included as many as six projects from Poland, and among them was the Green Cabin project by Antoni Grześkowiak from the Faculty of Architecture at Poznan University of Technology. The list also included a proposal Following the fire by Aleksandra Adamska, Zofia Gancarczyk, Klaudia Kochanowska and Aleksandra Musiał students of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology.
The house consists of one open space
© Antoni Grześkowiak
the beauty of simplicity
Keeping in mind the competition guidelines, I decided to design a building that, through its simple body, refers to the local context, and with interesting, ecological materials enriches what is known and archetypical. The building has understandable proportions, based on a specific module of 90 cm, and its roof, as in traditional Latvian construction, is 2/3 of the height of the entire building," says Antoni Grześkowiak.
The appearance of such a simple house facilitates on intuitive understanding of its function. The entire exterior is finished with wood and zinc sheeting.
The interiors are reminiscent of a rural landscape
© Antoni Grześkowiak
load-bearing walls made of hemp concrete
The construction innovation used in the project is the use of hemp concrete for the load-bearing walls.
The designated project plot has considerable dimensions, for this I proposed to grow hemp in the years before the construction of the buildings, and then use it to produce structural blocks. This solution is dynamically developing in the UK, but it is a novel thing in this part of Europe," the author explains.
Green Cabin project, cross-section
© Antoni Grześkowiak
rural landscape in the interior
The designer wanted the interiors of the cabins, consisting of a single space, to refer to the rural landscape of the area.
Wooden planks painted green, the clear texture of concrete and a strong core finished with ceramics are a free reinterpretation of what I found in the context, he adds.
All these materials come together in a single space, in which only the fireplace and the bathroom are separated, thus offsetting the energy loss.
The bungalow is an addition to the modest, picturesque landscape
© Antoni Grześkowiak
The designed building is a simple addition to an already modest but picturesque context. Antoni Grześkowiak wanted to make his proposal a contemporary interpretation of traditional Latvian construction through a clean form developed by modern technology.
