Oblique shapes, human scale, natural materials and contact with greenery are key features for the effectiveness of the therapy center. In the design of the Safe Haven - a Center of Assistance for Civilians Affected by the War Crisis in Dynów, Agnieszka Gacek, a student at Politechnika Lubelska, has thought them all through, and based her design on the author's Catalog of Structured Architectural Solutions.
Agnieszka Gacek's work is one of the finalists in the Best Architectural Diploma competition organized by the SARP Lublin Branch.
sheet II - location plan
designed by Agnieszka Gacak
author's catalog of architectural solutions
The designed object is a trauma therapy center, which is based on spatial solutions on the basis of the author's Catalogue of Structured Architectural Solutions (K.U.R.A). The catalog presents the results of the research part of the work, based on which architectural solutions were developed to improve the quality of life and mental health of people with PTSD.
The influx of refugees from Ukraine, as well as their traumatic experiences of war, pose mental health challenges for health services. Trauma, and the associated post-traumatic stress disorder, affects more than just refugees with its wide range of issues. Domestic violence, traffic accidents, sexual assaults, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the flood situation in southern Poland, underscore the need for Polish citizens to access specialized facilities as well
- explains the author.
One of the key aspects highlighted by the K.U.R.A catalog is an architectural form devoid of sharp, aggressive shapes and chaotic forms, all of which exacerbate PTSD symptoms. The designed space should be legible, allowing for easy orientation and a sense of control. Also very important for supporting therapy is contact with nature and the selection of materials with subdued colors that reduce stress and tension. In the catalog you can also read about the influence of natural light, acoustics or a suitable private space.
Excerpt from the K.U.R.A catalog
designed by Agnieszka Gacak
safe and natural therapy center
The center was located in Dynów and harmoniously inscribed in the landscape of the San River valley and the Vineyard Hill. The seven designed buildings are based on a clearly defined axis of composition, which gives the space a rural character.
The therapy building is set away from the others to promote tranquility and concentration of patients. The remaining buildings are arranged according to the hierarchy of functions, starting from administrative and technical functions to workshop buildings and pens for goats and sheep. A dormitory building with private gardens was placed in the eastern part.
Sheet III - rammed earth wall, ground floor
designed by Agnieszka Gacak
Sheet IV - first floor plan of the accommodation part
design: Agnieszka Gacak
The therapeutic function of the center is supported by stimuli from the natural surroundings: tall greenery, sensory beds or water bodies. Also key in the design is a field of vines which alludes to the historical function of the Vineyard Hill. The cultivation of the vines is intended to engage the patients and thereby enhance their sense of responsibility and agency.
Sheet V - first floor plan, workshop, cross-section A-A
designed by Agnieszka Gacak
Sheet VI - cross-section B-B, cross-section C-C
design: Agnieszka Gacak
The combination of wood and rammed earth gives the concept a warm, natural character, and the interiors of the buildings offer shelter from excess stimuli, so important for people with PTSD.
The work was prepared under the supervision of Professor Natalia Przesmycka.
