Nowy Strzeszyn - between a house and an apartment
It's only today that this average is starting to be strongly inflated by Nowy Strzeszyn. The new improved quality of the first part of the estate, which has already materialized at the intersection of Literacka and Malewska Streets, manifests itself in the refined form of two- and three-story terraced or semi-detached houses clad in wood and ceramic moldings in three colors. These claddings were created especially for this project. The entire structure was incorporated between numerous birch trees and several coniferous trees.
Custom-made ceramic claddings in several different colors have a heterogeneous texture and shade.
The designers wanted an effect far from industrial perfection.
Photo: Jakub Głaz
The original concept was simpler and more typical, but after a meticulous inventory of the trees we decided to save as many as possible, Januszewski says. He estimates that no more than thirty percent of the young birch forest was cut down for construction. - Instead, we treated the coniferous trees that are rare here as dominants and landmarks.
The result of these treatments is the soft, organic layout of the whole and, among other things, the dodgy juxtaposed segments of terraced houses. The intimate scale, pedestrian passages between the buildings, the variety of elevations, the consistent form of privacy fences and the storerooms located at the rear of the gardens produce a unique effect. Such a result was made possible by the rather liberal provisions of the local plan. Besides, this is not a typical single-family development, but - as the investor informs - an intermediate form "between a house and an apartment". This is not an empty slogan.
The estate is refined in almost every detail. The forms of fences, storage rooms at the back of gardens and several other details are intended to prevent "enrichment" of the space with individual solutions of low quality.
Photo: Jakub Głaz
Indeed, a significant part of the segments house three- or four-room apartments measuring from about 55 to 70 square meters, largely - on two floors.
There are five basic types of apartments, there are variations on their theme and larger apartments, as well as a few one- and two-room units, Januszewski enumerates.
Again, as with Insomia, the floor plans are optimal. Set rooms, double-sided lighting, no barren meters, communication reduced to a minimum. One of the studios measures 32 meters, has two separate set rooms, with the living room with kitchenette having double-sided lighting. Add to this a garden with a terrace, and the contrast with a similar meterage in the average apartment block will sting the eyes.
A concession to the strong habits of Poles, however, is the car access solution:
One of the first arrangements was that parking would be possible only on the outskirts of the complex, but in the end an internal street meanders through the middle of the estate, and there is a driveway for two cars in front of some of the segments, Januszewski describes. An original solution to the parking issue, however, can be seen in the extreme building on Malewska Street. Parking spaces here are located in characteristically undercut clearances in the first floor. - There is also no garage hall originally planned under the entire complex. Underground garages are only in four building complexes, which made it possible to completely separate vehicular and pedestrian traffic there, Januszewski says. He explains that building the hall under the entire housing complex would have interfered with the trees. - I also wanted residents to have the opportunity to meet their neighbors. This is almost impossible in a garage hall," he explains.
Parking spaces under the building on Malewska Street.
Photo: Jakub Glaz
He adds that common squares and courtyards are to be used to integrate residents, as well as the space in front of the estate's only commercial premises in the first floor of the corner dominant, which will be built in the second stage.
Whose budget is this housing estate for, and how did the architects find an investor for such an unconventional project?
The company that is building Nowy Strzeszyn belongs to an acquaintance who appreciated our previous projects, had confidence in us and probably does not regret it, because there is a lot of interest. The average cost per square meter is nine thousand zlotys," says Januszewski. So it's not cheap for Poznań, but it's also not a fabulous sum compared to the quality of apartments in the center available for more money. - We didn't save here either on materials or on details. And after this experience, I would like to design a social or communal housing development that is cheaper to build, but equally thoughtful," Januszewski announces.
It remains to be hoped that these plans will come true, and that Nowy Strzeszyn will be built in its entirety as intended, and will raise the bar high for other investors and architects.
