Michal Sienkiewicz from the Faculty of Architecture at Bialystok University of Technology, for his diploma project entitled. "Author's Gallery" made under the direction of Dr. Robert Misiuk, was awarded first prize in the engineering 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 works 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. When evaluating the 278 submitted projects, the jury was guided by architectural and urban design qualities. The use of the capabilities of the Archicad program, graphic creativity and the use of BIM technology were also subject to evaluation.
gallery is available for walk-through
© Michal Sienkiewcz
First place for the design of the Bialystok gallery
In the category of engineering diploma, the first place was won by Michal Sienkiewicz. The jury's opinion reads:
The award was given for the use of a bold solution, which is both mature as, and restrained. The austere and conservative form blends in with the surroundings. The landscape concept of hiding the building not only increases the attractiveness of the site, but also does not cause too much interference with the existing surroundings.
Designed by Michal Sienkiewicz, the gallery is located on an undeveloped site on the Bialystok River. The author's main goal was to create a building that, through its simplicity, would introduce an element of art into the daily lives of passersby. At the same time, the designed object would subtly fit into the context of the surroundings and the meanders of the nearby river, and its roof would serve as a walking path.
The gallery's roof is a walking path
© Michal Sienkiewicz
art during a walk
As Michal Sienkiewicz says about the project:
I wanted to create a unique place for art in the midst of nature, but in the city. It is a stratified pedestrian path, you can walk up and down, you can stop, sit on special stairs, contemplate art. The gallery is made of glass, because visitors are not supposed to enter it, but to view the art from outside, while walking.
The author wanted to simplify the design as much as possible - including its functions. He decided that users would not have to go inside the building to view the exhibitions. Only staff would have access to the interior, and admiring the objects, would be done from the outside. The lack of paid admission and general accessibility encourages contact with art. The planned exhibitions would be cyclically changing exhibitions of individual artists, with particular emphasis on young talent.
The gallery would be built near the Biala River
© Michal Sienkiewicz
pavilion in the vicinity of the river
Thegallery would be built on a degraded site, contributing to its revitalization. When designing the building, Michal Sienkiewicz sought to take advantage of the natural advantages of the plot. Therefore, he minimized the number of floors of the building to one, which, when implemented, would give the gallery a chance to be almost completely hidden in the ground. The building would be completely invisible from Jurowiecka Street.
The pedestrian walkway refers to the meanders of the river
© Michal Sienkiewicz
The use of flowing, dynamic, soft forms, an elongated glass façade and a pedestrian walkway that expands and divides into two refers to the meanders of the river flowing past. From a distance, the gallery's large glazing replicates the rhythm of the river. The screen façade is on the line between viewer and exhibit. The curtain wall façade, slender mullions and transoms combined with large sheets of clear glass do not interfere with the reception of the art. The project also makes use of raw concrete, which, as a neutral raw material, creates a background for the exhibitions on display, while blending harmoniously with the surroundings and not dominating them.
Read also about the Czahara project by Jakub Tajer, which received first place in the master's degree category.
compiled by: Dobrawa Bies
illustrations courtesy of Michal Sienkiewicz
