The Barn 2.0 project by Anna Wancel of the Wroclaw University of Technology, created under the supervision of dry Elżbieta Komarzyńska-Swieściak, is an example of a modern approach to the revitalization of local heritage. The subject of the study is a concept for the redevelopment of the former barn district in Żarki - a place that once had a key economic function, but today is being forgotten and degraded.
locations of barn complexes
© Anna Wancel
with the past in dialogue: from agricultural functions to social life
The barns, once located outside the dense urban development, served as storage and economic spaces for farmers living in the town. After Zarki lost its municipal rights as a result of repressions after the January Uprising, residents began farming again - hence the need to build new buildings. Originally wooden, they were rebuilt from Jurassic limestone after a fire and have survived in this form to this day.
The Wancel project not only attempts to save this unique urban setting, but also responds to contemporary socio-cultural needs. The central idea is the slogan: "It was, it is, it will be," which guides the narrative of the entire project - from an analysis of the past to a vision of the future with respect for local identity.
axonometry - barn complex in Żarki
© Anna Wancel
multifunctionality with respect for history
The concept is to divide the site into clear, functional zones. In the eastern part, a residential and artisan zone is being created, allowing local artists and craftsmen to conduct their activities in the vicinity of the houses. This is a modern form of integration of work and daily life, in the spirit of the idea of the "15-minute city."
In the central part of the premise, a gastronomic zone has been designed, combining recreational and commercial spaces. New buildings in lightweight wooden construction complement the existing row of barns, and the entire layout respects the old geometry and scale of the buildings.
cross-section A-A, southern elevations, Zarki
© Anna Wancel
The southern section of the market square has a representative function - there is a multifunctional square with a pavilion that serves as a regional chamber. It is an exhibition, educational and integrative space where residents and tourists can learn about the history of the region and contemporary activities of local artists. The observation tower provides an architectural accent, closing the viewing axis and creating a landmark in the landscape.
dialogue with the landscape and heritage
One of the most important aspects of the project is its respect for the existing urban fabric and landscape of Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska. The project involves preserving all existing barns, incorporating new functions in a non-invasive way, and introducing greenery and small architecture elements that organize the space and humanize it.
gastronomic zone
© Anna Wancel
The district is becoming a place of interpenetration of various functions - residential, commercial, craft and cultural. The spatial layout based on old divisions is clearly redefined. In the north, the "dirty zone" of the market square is planned, with technical facilities and supplies, while the south is the "clean zone", intended for aesthetic stalls and recreational spaces.
In the center, orderly market stalls are being created in existing barns, replacing the current spatial chaos. The project counters the degradation of public space and restores its dignity - with respect for the past, but with an eye to the future.
residential and artisanal zone
© Anna Wancel
modernity rooted in locality
Barns 2.0 is not only a revitalization project, but also a vision for a new quality of social life in a small town. Wancel proves that adapting historic structures to modern functions does not have to mean obliterating them. On the contrary, through responsible design, they can be given new life and residents can be given a new place to be together.
commercial barn
© Anna Wancel
This is a project firmly rooted in the local context, which responds to contemporary challenges: emptying city centers, loss of identity of spaces, disappearance of local ties. Anna Wancel's study is thus not only an architectural response to the problem of dilapidated economic districts, but also a social declaration that it is worth rebuilding what has seemingly lost its meaning - because architecture is not only about form, but also about memory, community and the future.
