The campuses of Polish universities are constantly enriching themselves with new buildings - in Krakow alone, the University of Economics and the AGH University of Science and Technology have announced plans to erect new buildings in recent days. The Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology took a different path, deciding to revitalize the more than 100-year-old building of the firemen's stables in Gliwice.
In the early 20th century, an eclectic stable building stood near the Klodnica River, which cuts through Gliwice, enriching the fire station complex located nearby. The elongated building, flanked by two towers with historic forms, fell into disrepair for years, finding no interest from investors and city authorities. The latter in 2019 decided to transfer the property to the Silesian University of Technology for 5% of its original value. The choice of the new owner was not coincidental, as the stables are now located within the Academic District, where the university's campus is located. The Polytechnic quickly took advantage of its new acquisition - it wasn't long before the university authorities announced a plan to install a Student Creativity Center in the stables.
everything everywhere at once
In 2022, the first plans for the development of the historic firefighters' stables building were made public. A Student Center of Creativity was planned in the facility to be revitalized, which was to provide space for the activities of scientific circles of the Silesian University of Technology. The project developed at the time from the EURO PROJECT studio led by the dean of the Silesian University of Technology's Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Klaudiusz Fross, was quite daring. The original concept called for the introduction of a two-story superstructure for the stable building and surrounding it with new buildings of various colorful forms. Not counting the additional building, set perpendicular to the longitudinal mass of the firemen's stables, these were mainly outdoor sculptures by Prof. Fross and Miroslaw Struzik. From the visualizations available on the Internet, one can also read that within the planned complex there was to be a stage and an outdoor cinema equipped with an auditorium and a canopy. The concept for developing the space around the former firefighters' stables was developed as part of Professor Fross' research project aRt&DeSiGn in Public Space.
Student Center for Creativity in Gliwice
photo: Klaudiusz Fross | © Silesian University of Technology
Unfortunately, not much better on the visualizations were the interiors of the planned investment, which were largely designed by people studying at the Silesian University of Technology under the Project Based Learning philosophy. The concept for the development of the 20th-century stables stirred up considerable controversy in 2022. Despite the criticism, the work has not been suspended, and the results can already be used by students of Silesian University of Technology.
speech is silver and silence is gold
On July 12 of this year, the Student Center for Creativity in Gliwice was opened. Fortunately, watching the implementation, one can breathe a sigh of relief. Construction activities were carried out in modified and much more restrained forms. The core of the idea for the revitalization of the former stables has not changed - the central part has been enriched with a two-story trapezoidal glass superstructure, supported on a black steel frame. As in the original design, the height of the superstructure was equalized with the gables of the turrets flanking the central section. There are, however, some differences - the biggest of which is the setback of the glass structure from the facade in order to better expose the historic fabric of the building. As for the latter, it should be noted that the facade of the front part has undergone reconstruction, but largely refers to the original layout. The turrets on the sides of the building have undergone meticulous restoration, preserving the original architectural details.
Student Center for Creativity in Gliwice
Photo: Klaudiusz Fross | © Silesian University of Technology
The concept of developing the area around the Student Center for Creativity is completely new. In this case, the focus is on minimalism. The controversial outdoor sculptures have not been implemented, but the building has been equipped with basic infrastructure in the form of bicycle racks and benches. The latter were created in several variants, referring to the history of the site - there are BenchMan benches with anthropomorphic shapes, seats with silhouettes of horses stenciled on them, and a bench in the backs of which basic information about the facility was cut out. The small-scale architecture around the Student Center for Creativity evokes mixed feelings - the formal chaos from the first design has been tamed, but the inconsistent forms of infrastructure and not the best aesthetics of individual objects leave a bit to be desired. Compared to the original concept , it is much better, although far from perfect.
Student Center for Creativity in Gliwice
Photo: Klaudiusz Fross | © Silesian University of Technology
innovation center
Those commenting on the concept, which was made public in 2022, drew attention to the project's inadequacy to modern standards - the main issue was the lack of information on ecological solutions to enrich the sustainable characteristics of the Silesian University of Technology's new acquisition. However, it should be noted that, in most cases, the very idea of revitalizing an old building is already a pro-environmental activity. Nevertheless, the final implementation included systems that reduce the negative impact that the operation of the building has on the environment. In the former stables, electricity is generated thanks to photovoltaic panels embedded in the glass, which, in addition to producing electricity, act as light diffusers, reducing the heating of the glass superstructure in the summer months. In winter, highly efficient water heating operating with special wall panels will take care of thermal comfort.
interior counts
The interiors of the former stables have been entirely subordinated to the tasks facing the Student Center for Creativity arranged in them.
From idea to product - the rooms have been arranged in such a way that a student or a group of students can realize their idea, gain knowledge, use appropriate spaces for individual and group work, design and make a prototype, present it to an investor, show it at an exhibition," describes the interiors to the author of the concept, Prof. Klaudiusz Fross.
The Student Center for Creativity is equipped with numerous coworking spaces that can be used by those studying at the Silesian University of Technology. The layout of the meeting spaces can be modified thanks to partition walls, which give users the possibility to adjust the degree of transparency. Exhibition space, as well as conference and cinema rooms have also been arranged in the new facility.
Until now, the University did not have a space where multiple scientific circles could work in one place. - The circles functioned mainly in their own departments and there was no space for joint project activities. So I hope the Center will help develop students' creativity," Grzegorz Król of the Student Government said at the opening of the Student Creativity Center.
It is currently in use with changeable and temporary equipment to better accommodate new user needs. The target furniture and multimedia equipment is expected to appear soon, which will make this quite correct revitalization of the former building into a fully functional facility. Today, the modernization of the 20th century stables can serve primarily as an example of how renewed reflection and restraint in design efforts can save even the most controversial concept.
