{tag:studenci} from the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology, designed a regenerative stop for cyclists that redefines the concept of urban bicycle infrastructure. The project was developed under the supervision of Dr. Manezha Dost and Prof. Tomasz Kapecki.
site development plan
© Sandra Dąbrowska
Located in the green part of Kraków's Czyżyny district, the regeneration stop is not just a place for a temporary stop. It is a space for physical and mental renewal, designed with care for its users. On a mere 204 sqm, six functional zones were planned, including a bicycle service, catering area, showers, toilets and relaxation areas. The facility's form was based on interpenetrating circles, which gives it dynamism and organizes its spatial layout. The well-thought-out layout provides both privacy and openness to the surroundings, which reinforces the sense of comfort and invitation to enter.
context and material
The choice of location near the bike path and green areas of Krakow emphasizes integration with the surroundings and landscape. The body of the building was finished in clinker brick, which refers to the local architectural tradition. The surroundings were designed with attention to vegetation and ecology: almond trees, boxwoods and snugly arranged ornamental grasses, among others, appeared here. Surfaces were made of permeable materials that promote water retention, making the space more environmentally friendly and resistant to climate change.
An additional advantage of the project is its inclusion in the narrative of sustainability: the material and landscape solutions used serve both users and nature. Through subtle play with form and texture, visual lightness was achieved while maintaining clear functionality.
elevations © Sandra Dabrowska 
designing through experimentation
Physical modelingplayed a key role in the creative process . Working with cardboard, foam and tissue paper, the author searched for a form combining utility and expression. This is how she created a dynamic but functional space that invites interaction, integrates and supports.
The bicycle repair workshop gazebo complements the whole and expands the potential use of the site - it is a place where one can not only make quick repairs, but also talk, exchange experiences and ideas. It's a community space - small, but meaningful.
elevations, visualization © Sandra Dąbrowska 
architecture that gives time
The designed stop not only responds to the needs of cyclists, but also redefines the meaning of small architecture in the city. It shows that even a small object can create a socially important, functional, open and warm place. Sandra Dabrowska's project proves that scale does not limit meaning - on the contrary, it allows to create spaces tailored to real needs.
Bay of Regeneration is a place that - despite its small scale - proposes a new quality of everyday functioning in urban space. It combines practicality with reflection, invites you to stop - and precisely because of this it becomes an important part of the urban landscape.
