Jakub Tajer, a graduate in architecture from the Gdansk University of Technology, for his diploma project entitled. "Czahary - Didactic Center of Polesie National Park" made under the supervision of Dr. Andrzej Prusiewicz, was awarded 1st prize in the master's diploma category in the 3rd edition of the "Diplomawith Archicad" competition.
This year's edition of the "Diploma with Archicad" competition was aimed at students of architecture, interior design, urban planning and landscape architecture who created their diploma theses in the Archicad graphics program and defended them between January 2019 and February this year. Awards were given in two categories: master 's diploma and engineering diploma. The jury was guided by architectural and urban design qualities when evaluating the 278 submitted projects. Additional criteria were the use of the capabilities of the Archicad program, graphic creativity and the use of BIM technology.
the most important element of the establishment is the landscape path
© Jakub Tajer
First place for the design of the Didactic Center of the Polesie National Park.
In the master's degree category, the jury decided to award 1st place to Jakub Tajer. The committee's opinion reads:
The award was given for the sensitive and poetic shaping of solid and material solutions, as well as for the creation of interiors that betray the author's creative maturity. The project contains a coherent concept, which subtly harmonizes with the chosen location, namely the Poleski National Park, The prudent choice of materials used (wood, straw), perfectly fitting into the natural character of the park, integrating with the already existing ecosystem and local buildings, deserves special praise.
Designed by Jakub Tajer, the Didactic Center "Czahary" is located in the northern part of a huge floodplain called Bubnów Swamp, part of Polesie National Park, in the Lublin region. Currently, there is a scenic path there in the form of a wooden bridge that allows visitors to walk deep into the wetland. It became the main inspiration for the new building.
The facades are covered with straw paste
© Jakub Tajer
"Czahary", or education in nature
As the author says about the project:
It is very difficult to prove something to someone without evidence. It is equally difficult to prove the validity of those that are the product of a domino effect, a process seemingly unrelated to the problem. So it's hard to explain that seemingly harmless land reclamation of agricultural land can result in the pollution of an entire neighborhood, the extinction of a forest, or the flooding of a city miles away. A fairly obvious form of struggle is restrictions and penalties, but are they effective if people don't know what they are supposed to prevent? The logical, here, would be thorough education, although we know well that knowledge forced in, is rarely assimilated. A place that encourages people to learn about their surroundings and learn about them may be the answer. [...]
One of the objects of the teaching center, an observation tower
© Jakub Tajer
Jakub Tajer designed a continuation of the existing path in areas previously inaccessible, as well as architecture to expand the possibilities of the site. The main idea of the complex designed in this way was to take advantage of the exposure of the beautiful landscape and show it as the main exhibit of the natural museum. In order to emphasize that the architecture is only an addition to the path, the author used several procedures. The first was to divide the planned functions of the Center into individual buildings. This significantly reduced their scale and, at the same time, interference with the composition of the surroundings. It also allowed them to operate independently, which may be beneficial due to the seasonal nature of some functions. The next step was to prudently select the location of the buildings. They found their place between two walls of the forest, creating an exhibition closure and at the same time marking the end of the access zone and the beginning of the pedestrian route. This makes the museum the first stop on the tour.
A reference to history and a new use of straw
The composition of the positioning of the buildings in relation to each other loosely alludes to the historical layout - manor house and rustic in the Lublin area. Similarities can also be seen in the form of the blocks and their proportions.
The buildings on a rectangular plan have hipped roofs
© Jakub Tajer
As the author states:
This is not accidental, although it is due not so much to the need to preserve certain architectural principles or the historical identity of the place (the building is built entirely from scratch, the nearest buildings are several kilometers away), but to the issue of fitting into a rural landscape that is already familiar to us. Such a procedure allows visitors to treat the architecture of the complex as a kind of curiosity, more than a major attraction in the Park area.
The wooden buildings, made on a rectangular plan, have hipped roofs. The facades of the buildings are covered with straw mass. The prefabricated compressed straw used, poured with epoxy resin, is inexpensive (it can be recycled), easy to install and reminiscent of traditional thatch. The color blends well with the surroundings is also an asset.
elaborated by Dobrawa Bies
illustrations courtesy of Jakub Tajer
