Three architecture students from Poznan University of Technology - Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Lapinska and Natalia Marczynska - decided to try their hand at the international architecture competition ElectriCITY. They proposed transforming an abandoned, huge power plant in Philadelphia into an entertainment center. Their Electric Vibes project was awarded first prize!
We had been looking for a challenging and developmental competition for a long time. We wanted to try our hand at something big, and that's how we found the UNI platform's ElectriCITY competition. The main idea of the competition was to create a public space that promotes better well-being of the city's residents, a so-called "urban living room". For this purpose, the organizers wanted to use the site of an abandoned power plant - the Delaware Generating Station, located in Philadelphia in the United States, the authors of the project say.
On the site of the power plant, the authors placed an exhibition space
© Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Łapińska, Natalia Marczyńska
new life for a former power plant
The result was to be a multifunctional public space with various functional uses for local residents. The existing space of the power plant - Fishtown Delaware Generating Station- was to be adapted, and the solutions were to beinexpensive, efficient and adapted to the changing needs of users. The spaces were to include, among other things, food and beverage establishments, commercial (tailored to various entrepreneurs), landscaped open spaces, and a multipurpose public space - allowing for small-scale events. The area to be developed was very large, amounting to 11,000 square meters, and the site itself is located on the Delaware River.
The students had to develop almost 11 thousand square meters
© Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Łapińska, Natalia Marczyńska
project work
The beginning of work on the project was not easy, as the scale of the building proved very overwhelming for such a small number of people in the team, and the lack of direct access to the site was an additional difficulty for us. We searched for the right solution to reflect the genius loci of the place, which was to go hand in hand with adapting the vacant building in the best possible way to the people. By trial and error, we managed to adapt each part of the building to the needs of different users. Anyone entering the building would feel a kind of "vibe" that would accompany them throughout their journey through the place. Our goal was to create a place of recreation suitable for audiences of different ages and needs, while preserving the atmosphere of the place and its character," the students say about the beginning of their work.
The former power plant also houses a skate park
© Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Łapińska, Natalia Marczyńska
entertainment center
The authors divided the plan of the building into a plan of twelve entertainment zones - stores, laser paintball, climbing walls, a restaurant. roller skating rink, bowling alley, skate park, graffiti walls, trampolines, art gallery, yoga studio and a rooftop garden with a bar. The power plant would become an entertainment center where residents could spend time together.
The roller skating rink is one of the many attractions of Electirc Vibes
© Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Łapińska, Natalia Marczyńska
The huge number of attractions inside and the possibility to relax on the roof of the building perfectly respond to people's needs, while ecological and reusing solutions such as a graffiti wall made of used building materials, and green walls on chimneys that are no longer in use respond to the needs of our planet. The place could put people in a good mood, propelling them to action in their fast-paced daily lives, the students argue.
green multifunctional public space
© Paulina Hodór, Gabriela Łapińska, Natalia Marczyńska
The authors also kept in mind the safety of the entire complex - they designed service offices, locker rooms and sanitary facilities. An additional advantage of the project are photovoltaic panels located on the roof, providing energy.
