The area covered by the study is located in the village of Dabrowa in Wielkopolska province, and a gravel pit has been operating there since 1998. The development concept is aimed at restoring the natural landscape after the site has been depleted of construction ore and enriching it with recreational and leisure functions.
design assumptions
The development of the 65-hectare site took into account the widest possible reclamation measures restoring and regulating the over-water slopes, bank and bottom of the reservoir. In accordance with the adopted aquatic direction of reclamation, a water reservoir with a water surface area of about 35 hectares is planned to be created at the site of the pit. To restore biodiversity, it is planned to introduce appropriate species of fauna and flora, both aquatic plants, coastal plants, meadow vegetation, as well as shrubs and tall, dense species of trees to acoustically separate the area from the busy Bukowska Street.
Left: site development plan; right: development
© Aleksandra Biernacka
The main goal of the development was reclamation while possibly preserving the character created by years of exploitation of the site. The western part of the shoreline of the envisioned lake will therefore remain in its pre-reclamation state. In this part, sand and gravel are the main building blocks. Eight- to ten-meter high embankments crossed by pedestrian paths and a bicycle road cut off from the post-reclamation green surroundings, tying into the rest of the area with a communication structure.
building structure
The volumes housing the utility functions are independent blocks connected from above by the roof plane. On the other hand, they are closed from the side with glass partitions, so as to open the building as much as possible to the surrounding sand landscape, while maintaining safety and thermal comfort.
left: axonometry of the block; right: cross-sections
© Aleksandra Biernacka
functional layout
The functional layout of the building is spread over three floors. They are connected by an evacuation staircase serving the entire building with a passenger elevator. In the underground zone there is a technological zone.
The first floor zone has been divided into two parts: the public one, available to customers, and the one available only to the staff and technical service of the facility. An independent entrance and a reception area connecting from the inside have been provided for both parts. On level 0 there is a main lobby with public toilets, a vestibule leading to checkrooms, showers and changing rooms for women, men and people with disabilities, a cafe area with an outdoor terrace, as well as a backroom and storage space serving this area. The second part of the facility provides for an administrative and economic area housing social rooms, locker rooms for employees, a manager's room, toilets with showers, and a waste storage room with independent access from the outside.
left: plan of level 0; right: plan of level +1
© Aleksandra Biernacka
Due to the subordination of the facility to both the wet, swimming pool function and the dry function, with fitness rooms, the part housing the changing rooms was separated from the showers leading to the pool area by a corridor allowing dry access from the changing rooms to the staircase leading to the second floor, where the sports area is located.
The pool area is supported by a structure inscribed in the volumes, and houses Finnish and steam saunas. This zone was located on the northeast side, as close as possible to the surface of the designed water reservoir. From the outside, the space is surrounded by glass, opening this zone to the external landscape. It includes a salt water pool, a mineral water pool, a shallow pool for the youngest, a Jacuzzi and an outdoor pool, opening the view to the surface of the lake.
visualization of the pool area
© Aleksandra Biernacka
In the pool space, tunnels have been provided for cooling the body after a visit to the sauna. Inside the structure of freely distributed saunas and swimming pool basins, communication footbridges have been routed to enable lifeguard supervision. A lifeguard service exit and a medical room have been provided next to the pool area.
On the +1 floor there are fitness rooms with a storage room and a Pilates room equipped with a steel structure for depositing exercise balls. Glass sliding doors are provided in the exterior walls to allow the usable part of the roof to be used as an extension of the room during the summer season.
Also planned for this level are toilets, a cleaning room and a trainers' room with an independent toilet with shower.
Two functional zones have been created on the roof plane in the form of terraces separated by railings: one is intended for users of the training rooms, the other for people using the recreational areas of the designed area. The entire structure of the roof is based on the designed aggregate embankment and thus allows access to the roof without the need to go inside the facility.
visualization
© Aleksandra Biernacka
The entrance part of the building has been glazed, inscribed with a form that spatially connects the external functions of the building with the internal ones. On the north side, adjacent to the bicycle path, made in concrete with slots in repetitive spacing, it allows bicycles to be fixed, on the inside it is finished with wood, partially lowered - it serves as seats at the exit of the checkroom, and higher in the part of the main entrance - it serves as a reception counter.
Since the area around the site is of a reclamation nature, shallow concrete pool basins were designed here to serve as ponds for aquatic plants used for biological reclamation of the designed water body.
visualization
© Aleksandra Biernacka
In this zone, the visitor to the Temperatures House from the very entrance has indirect contact with the water and vegetation found in the study area, a reminder of the site's history and the reclamation carried out to restore the area's pre-exploitation character.
Aleksandra BIERNACKA
Illustrations: © Author
