Unfortunately, we still have to wait a little longer for the canoeing season (there are only one hundred and seventy-one days left until May Day), but we can dream and move for a while to the area of the Green Lungs of Poland, to picturesque Augustow, where architects from the PSBA and INOONI studios have designed a new base for canoeists.
The canoeing base in Augustow, completed this year, was based on the winning concept of an architectural competition decided in 2016. The competition task was to create a design for a water sports center - a base for canoeists, along with the development of adjacent recreational areas. The implementation of the project was divided into several stages, the kayaking base being the first of them. Ultimately, a multifunctional sports field, pumptrack, playground and rest areas for residents and tourists are also to be built on the territory of the river Netta's riverbanks.
location
The center is located in the center of Augustow, on the western bank of the Netta River - in a picturesque bend, which is a part of the historic Augustow Canal. Surrounding the facility are recreational areas popular among residents and tourists.
bird's eye view
photo: Bartosz Dworski © PSBA Przemysław Sokołowski Biuro Architektoniczne, INOONI Jakub Zygmunt
form
The new Water Sports Center consists of two buildings - a canoe base and a boat hangar with a pier.
The single-story building of the canoe base is inscribed in a plan similar to a triangle. The dynamic form of the building, through its varied height, reflects the functions housed inside - in the higher part there is a storage and workshopspace, and in the lower part there are other rooms, such as administration offices, toilets and a gym.
cross-section
© PSBA Przemysław Sokołowski Biuro Architektoniczne, INOONI Jakub Zygmunt
As the authors of the project emphasize, the visual perception of the building changes depending on where you look from. The geometrized body of the base looks as if a section of it was cut off from each side at a different angle - the flat green roof has a slight slope, and the sloping walls create characteristic arcades that emphasize entrances and frame views.
The lump of the boat hangar refers to the canoe base building. Its dynamic form transitions on one side into a mini-tribune, allowing access to the hangar's roof, where the viewing terrace is located.
function
The base building serves as facilities and a training and meeting place for the local canoe club. Competitions and sporting events are also held here. The new facility houses: training facilities - locker rooms and a gym with a panoramic view of the water, a club room, sports equipment storage and a public restroom. The hangar building on the water, on the other hand, has: two piers for the use of water equipment, a grandstand on the roof and storage space for motor boats.
finishing
From the outside, the building is finished with a natural material - Siberian larch planking. As the project's authors point out, the horizontal arrangement of the planks emphasizes the dynamism of the mass, and the natural color scheme helps the building blend harmoniously into the surrounding landscape. The interiors are kept in a minimalist style.
