object inscribed in historical space
Keeping in mind the rule of St. Benedict, the author created a modest object without excessive ornamentation. Today, relics of the lower parts of the walls of the west wing and the south wing remain. The walls of the new building emphasize the original layout and duplicate the thickness of the existing walls, giving the impression of growing out of them. At the same time, they do not pretend to be historical, they can be distinguished by a subtle change of material - brick and a slight change of color.
The walls do not pretend to be historical, they can be distinguished by a subtle change of material and color
© Anna Kowalik
In the cloister space, Anna Kowalik paid attention to the mutual proportions of the elements in relation to each other, the rhythm of the openings and walls. She used a concrete cradle, and concrete slabs on the floor to emphasize the divisions of the cloister. At their junction she designed a subtle small copper cross. The new cloister is conceived as a herb garden with a well in the middle, recalling the first garden arrangements in medieval monasteries.
monastery retreat center
Theentrance to the center is located in the west wing of the building, where the reception room is located. Heading south, visitors will encounter a conference room with a kitchen room and storerooms alluding to the monastery's refectory and kitchen. A passageway is located at the intersection of the south and west wings and leads to the floor with guest rooms.
first floor plan of the entire establishment
© Anna Kowalik
The first floor of the east wing contains a lecture hall and a rest room. Vertical communication duplicates the trace of the historical one. In the historic part of the wing there is a chapter house, where the author plans to place reconstructed benches and the abbot's throne. The space is intended to serve as the abbey's museum. On the first floor of the south wing are rooms with loggias overlooking the Pilica River and the historic south wall enclosing the structure. Loggias separate the rooms from the old wall with biforias overlooking nature. The east wing houses the monastery cells for the four brothers. The farther part of the wing is occupied by a library and an adjoining archive.
Thedesign of the retreat center organizes the site and calms the surroundings. It was conceived as a background architecture to enhance the beauty of the stone church and the historic surroundings.
The project made it to the finals of this year's Zbyszek Zawistowski "Diploma of the Year" Award, the results of which will be announced in October. In addition to Anna Kowalik, the nominees for the award include: Adriana Sowa with her Herbarium project, Marta Stachurska, who created the project of the Museum of Culture in Matera, and Julia Zasada, author of the project of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Ethiopia.
compiled by Dobrawa Bies
illustrations courtesy of Anna Kowalik
