The twelfth edition of the Mood for Wood workshop yielded interesting results. Much-needed and attractive urban furniture stood at Poznan's Lake Malta. Since the first day they have been used by strollers and tourists. Six objects made of wood were created under the guidance of experienced tutors.
Mood for Wood can already be considered a very solid brand. Every year, the international design workshop for students provides selected spaces of Poznan and Cieszyn with new usable forms made of wood. Thanks to the workshops, their young participants have the opportunity to move at a fast pace from social surveys and field analysis, through the design process to practical implementation in the public space of housing estates, parks, Jordan gardens, waterfronts, etc. They do this in groups, benefiting from the knowledge, support and guidance of experienced tutors. From the very beginning, Magdalena Wypusz has been the main coordinator of the project. She is now also assisted by Maria Dondajewska and Ania Kocieniewska. The organizers are now the Common Point association and the Poznan branch of SARP. This year the event under the theme "Find balance" took place between June 18 and 29. In August, we will have a catch-up event in Poznan's Jeżyce district.
set to be completed
The choice of venue for the June activities was a hit. Admittedly, the sports and recreational complex on Lake Malta appears to be a complete work, but the illusion passes when we look at the details. There are certainly not enough benches, seats and other types of facilities around the reservoir for relaxing or spending time together. Not surprisingly, the new structures immediately found users—adults and children.
Lake Malta in Poznań, along the walking and biking route benches are rare
photo: Jakub Głaz
Adding new elements at Malta, however, is a responsible challenge. The entire complex was designed in the 1980s by Klemens Mikula and his team as part of a major reconstruction of an artificial body of water put into use in 1952. By 1990, distinctive structures (grandstands, press center, hangars, restaurant, scoreboard) and structures used for rowing competitions were erected around the lake. All coherent and consistently maintained in a postmodern spirit. This is perhaps the best example of architecture of this trend in Poznan.
The forms of the Maltese buildings are consistent, proportional and very skillfully integrated into the landscape—which has also been creatively modified by Mikula. There is no question of kitsch or exaggeration, which are often identified with postmodernism. Even the „illustrative” paddle-shaped starting positions seem right on target here. Instead, the guiding colors of the entire establishment are taken from the repertoire of modernists: the dominant white broken by yellow, red and blue.
broad context
The participants of this year's workshop therefore had to think not only about the operation and shape of their designs, but their functioning in a landscape defined by the distinctive architecture, its forms and colors. They succeeded in doing so very well. Six installations stood on the banks of the Malta River, interestingly inserted into the context. Five around the lake and one within a campsite located next to the scoreboard near the finish line of the regatta course. Four objects stood closest to the water: two on the beach near the swimming area on the south side, one on the opposite side, near the meadow next to the Malta Thermal Baths, and another next to the starting stands—on the west side. The last two are the aforementioned development at the campsite and a structure integrated into the popular spring water intake near the finish line.
two towers
We begin our review with the beach at the swimming area. The works located here are the most distinctive and exposed. Their exact location within the extensive bathing area was determined by the workshop participants themselves. They decided that two forms would flank the beach at both ends—west and east.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznań—the work „Boja, Bólya, Bója, Bóje,” a work by a team led by Mátyás Molnár and the KOSMOS studio
photo: Dawid Majewski
Thus, asignificant dominant feature is the openwork tower standing on the hill, formally corresponding with the observation tower by the stands. It took its place above the seat of the former referee 's stand and can serve as a vantage point and meeting place. The structure, named „Boja, Bólya, Bója, Bóje,” was designed by a team led by KOSMOS Architects and Mátyás Molnár.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznan—the work „Boja, Bólya, Bója, Bóje”, view of the construction
photo: Dawid Majewski
Astrongly narrative form was taken by a very interesting installation located on the concrete platform of the bathing area. The composition of seats and platforms consists of paraphrased iconic buildings: the Washington Pentagon, the Paris Opera Garnier, the Parthenon, an Apple store and New York's Chrysler Building skyscraper. In doing so, the juxtaposition of different styles and a kind of play with historical forms refers ideologically to the poetics of postmodernism. But it is not just a game. The structure serves very well for various forms of recreation and observation of the lake and beach.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop at Malta in Poznań, a platform with a new installation within the bathing area, view from the lake, from the north
Photo: Dawid Majewski
The platform, viewed from equal perspectives, is an interesting landmark and blends in with either the city skyline with the city hall tower, the silhouettes of distant skyscrapers on the north side of the lake, or the sports complex at the finish line. For the youngest, it can be a stimulus to an interest in architecture. The group led by Iw Borkowicz of JEJU Studio and Jacek Kolasinski of HIROKO office is responsible for this ambiguous project called "Man-Made Bench."
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznań—the „Man-Made Bench” object of the group led by Iw Borkowicz from JEJU Studio and Jacek Kolasiñski from HIROKO office.
Photo: Dawid Majewski
more shelters!
On the opposite side of the beach, on the other hand, stood a form with a purely utilitarian function. The simple spacious shelter houses seats, benches and tables under a pulpit yellow roof that is a reference to the similarly sloping elements of the main stand. It is an apt aesthetic counterbalance to the beach's dominant features, and—most importantly—is very much enjoyed by walkers.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznań—the „PIC WAVE” facility.—overlooking the lake and the opposite shore with grandstands (left), to which the structure refers
Photo: Dawid Majewski
It begs that the manager of Malta—Poznanskie Ośrodki Sportu i Rekreacji—with the permission of the creators, should add at least two such shelters. Firstly, they will be useful to residents, and secondly, a set of several such elements will make an interesting waterfront composition. This object called "PIC WAVE" was prepared by participants under the direction of Aleksander Wadas (Aleksander Wadas Studio) from Warsaw.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznan—object „PIC WAVE”.—project by a group under the direction of Aleksander Wadas
photo: Dawid Majewski
The latest lakeside object is part of the solidifying Mood for Wood tradition of creating structures to observe the surrounding nature and landscape. This year, a perpendicular openwork structure with stairs leading to a viewing platform located between lush reeds and a concrete platform next to a martial arts practice pavilion on the western shore of the lake serves this purpose.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop on Malta in Poznań—„Ambona” structure—view from the east, from the platform
photo: Dawid Majewski
The project called "Ambona" was created by a group led by Zoltán Major and Péter Müllner of the Hungarian studio Partizan Architecture.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznań—the „Ambona” object and its creators
photo: Dawid Majewski
meeting places
Finally, it's time to describe forms realized in more secluded places. These are definitely located closer to traditional small architecture. At the campground, a team led by Lukáš Šíp and Tibor Varga of Bratislava Technical University created modular seats that can be put together in various configurations.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop in Malta, Poznań—the „Bonfire” object—a project by a group led by Lukáš Šíp and Tibor Varga from the Bratislava Politecnica
photo: Dawid Majewski
The initial circular form and the possibility of disconnecting individual elements can serve as seats around bonfires, hence the name: „Bonfire.” Here, too, it would be useful to produce more of these elements and place them in several places on the lake.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop at Malta in Poznań—„Bonfire” object—different ways of putting elements together
photo: Dawid Majewski
The sixth realization, on the other hand, is a simple, irregular composition of seats integrated into the concrete basin of the pond at the spring water intake. At first glance, the inconspicuous form may escape the attention of visitors to this corner of Malta, but first observations prove that the seat overhanging the water is very popular among groups of children resting here.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop at Malta in Poznań—„DIALOG” facility.—A view of the pond and the new installation from the slope of the forest on Lake Malta
photo: Dawid Majewski
A group led by Miroslav Mal ý representing the Czech Malý Chmel studio is responsible for this project.
Mood for Wood 2023 workshop at Malta in Poznań—the „DIALOG” object and its creators
photo: Dawid Majewski
The Nadmaltana edition can therefore be considered both a successful workshop and a major contribution to the civilized retrofitting of an important urban space. This proves that there is room for new forms on the Malta River. However, they must be well thought out and designed. Recently, Malta has had no luck with such facilities. A year ago it was gifted with a famous patriotic bench for a few months and—unfortunately, permanently—a series of clumsy concrete pylons with plaques commemorating Poznań's Olympic athletes. Let's hope that this year's realizations will reverse this unfavorable trend and more good small architecture will arrive at the Malta River.
