It will be a story of contrasts — on the one hand, an eye winking reference to Dubai, known for its glamour, and on the other, humility, balance and symbiosis with nature. The story imagines a seaside resort of the future — a former fishing village on the Baltic Sea surrounded by pine forests, which will attract tourists with an unusual viewing platform and a descent leading directly to one of the most beautiful beaches in Poland.
we have Dubai at home
The famous, impressive (albeit artificial) Dubai beaches in Poland? In the small town of Jaroslawiec, located on the Baltic Sea, between Ustka and Darlowo, we can feel like we are on one of the beaches in the United Arab Emirates. And all thanks to a huge (area: 5 hectares!) artificial beach known as the "Polish Dubai".
Completed in 2018, the beach in Jaroslawiec is not only a tourist attraction, its main task is to protect the highest cliff in Central Pomerania from a landslide.
Viewing platform with descent to the "Dubai Beach" in Jaroslawiec, bird's eye view
© Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
Fortunately, the authorities of the Postomino Municipality, of which the seaside town of Jaroslawiec is a part, did not use the catchy name given to the artificial beach to introduce construction solutions straight from Dubai. They opted to organize (in cooperation with the Koszalin Branch of the Association of Polish Architects) an implementation competition for the design of a viewing platform and descent to the "Dubai Beach".
The competition regulations emphasized that yes, the project should become a showpiece of the city (it is well known that seaside towns try to attract tourists in various ways), but also be characterized by appropriateness and moderation, and meet the principles of inclusive and universal design.
Viewing platform with descent to "Dubai Beach" in Jaroslawiec, bird's eye view
© Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
on one of the wild beaches
According to the jury of the competition, chaired by Marcin Brataniec, the best "non-popmatic" form was proposed by Restudio Jacaszek Architekci studio. According to the principle that the architects declare on their website, their proposal is a dialogue between man and the environment. Situated on the cliff, the vantage point took the form of a ring, from which the beach can be reached by taking steps, following a zigzagging path or a bit faster.... slipping down a slide! The vantage point itself has two terraces — the upper one, which can be accessed directly from street level, and the lower one, which will house a small amphitheater square with a stage, as well as restrooms and technical facilities.
The first prize was awarded for the sensitive integration of the architecture into the landscape. In the authors' proposal, the entrance to the beach in the area of Nadmorska Street is an integral part of the public space of the locality. [...] The proposed architectural and landscape solutions, including small architecture, point the way to a new quality of Jaroslawiec's public spaces — reads the jury's justification.
Viewing platform with descent to the "Dubai Beach" in Jaroslawiec, view from the promenade
© Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
About the biggest challenges of the project, pro-ecological solutions
and the genius loci of Jaroslawiec is told by Maciej Jacaszek of Restudio Jacaszek Architekci studio
Ola Kloc: According to the competition's guidelines, the proposed solution was to be architecturally attractive, become a landmark and a symbol of the municipality, and, at the same time, to be distinguished by appropriateness and moderation. How did you manage to combine these two aspects?
Maciej Jacaszek: Finding the right architectural language in a specific landscape context was perhaps the most difficult aspect of this competition. In our work for many years now, we have tried to have a dialogue with the environment, avoiding solutions where the form will dominate. Such a sensitive and moderate approach interests us the most, we do not try to compete with the beauty of the natural landscape.
In my opinion, the design solutions in Jaroslawiec, reconcile the contradiction between moderation and recognition. The building, integrated into its surroundings, has at the same time definite, original features that give it a distinctive, individual identity. The upper observation deck is designed at the level of Nadmorska Street, so that it does not obscure the attractive views of the sea from the side of the main pedestrian and roadway. From the side of the beach descent and the beach itself, the structure gives the impression of floating above the area.
Viewing platform with descent to "Dubai Beach" in Jaroslawiec, view from the street
© Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
Ola Kloc: Where did you get the idea to incorporate a slide into the design?
Maciej Jacaszek: Marta Marszałek — an architect from our office, necessarily wanted to quickly and effortlessly, drop tourist equipment (backpacks, tent...) down the slide from the upper terrace directly to the beach. On this occasion, the idea arose to design three alternative descents to the beach: on stairs, on paths with a 6% slope and on an express slide for children and thrill-seekers
Ola Kloc: The project was to draw on pro-environmental solutions — what treatments did you rely on?
Maciej Jacaszek: For me, ecological architecture is primarily one that does not destroy the natural landscape, becoming an integral part of it. In the course of working on the competition, we really carefully analyzed the silhouette of the natural cliff. The designed multifunctional plaza with viewing platforms was, in my opinion, optimally integrated into the surroundings. The determinant of our thinking about good architecture is nature — its order and universal balance and symbiosis.
In addition, we also used solutions that are already standard today: led lighting of the area with automatic regulation of light output based on a motion detection system, and autonomous masts with photovoltaic cells, separated from the main square, for the production of electricity mainly for the needs of the hot water storage tank in the sanitary facilities.
Viewing platform with descent to "Dubai Beach" in Jaroslawiec, interior
© Restudio Jacaszek Architekci
Ola Kloc: The infrastructure of seaside resorts in Poland is usually associated with a view contrasting with the natural landscape, where every inch of space is supposed to encourage tourists to enter or shop. There are few solutions similar to those planned in Jaroslawiec. Is there a chance that your project will become a contributor to changes in spaces of this type?
Maciej Jacaszek: We approach our work with commitment and responsibility, and have no ambition to set any trends in architecture. I think that it is not only in architecture that it is worth moving with a certain humility. We are not interested in iconic and dominant architecture. The historic lighthouse in Jaroslawiec, which is the symbol of the city, is also a height dominant, with which the newly designed elements should not compete. Our square on a circular plan (horizontal form) symbolically relates to the existing lighthouse on a circular plan (vertical form). Both objects, being in a kind of dialogue, create the genius loci of Jarosławiec.
Ola Kloc: Thank you for the interview.
