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Temple on high - the project of the church in Orawka

05 of June '25
w skrócie
  1. Michal Janowiak of the Technical Institute of the Academy of Applied Sciences in Nowy Targ designed the building of the church dedicated to John Paul II, along with a bell tower.
  2. The project is located in the village of Orawka, which is also home to one of the oldest wooden churches in Malopolska.
  3. The author combined inspiration from the traditional architecture of the region with contemporary technological solutions.
  4. The form of the building's roof refers to the archetype of the Orava hut.
  5. For more interesting information, visit the home page of the AiB portal.

Podhale tradition combined with modern technologies? What effect will such a mix achieve in the design of a religious building? Michal Janowiak of the Technical Institute at {tag:University} designed a modern vision of a church in the Malopolska village of Orawka. The work was done under the direction of Dr. Małgorzata Mełges.

Orawka is a small village located halfway between Rabka Zdrój and Babia Góra. It is home to a historic church dedicated to St. John the Baptist, built in the 1750s, which lies on the wooden architecture trail of the Małopolska province. This oldest temple in the former Orava region is entirely covered with shingles, which are wedge-shaped boards made of coniferous wood.

obiekt istniejący - kościół Św. Jana Chrzciciela w Orawce

Existing object - St. John the Baptist Church in Orawka

designed by Michal Janowiak

architecture full of rapture

Michal Janowiak has proposed a design for a new religious building. His church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, along with a bell tower, was located on land near the Orawka Elementary School. The location was carefully chosen so that the building would harmonize with the surrounding landscape of the Tatra Mountains panorama and the nearby dominant peak of Babia Góra.

projekt zagospodarowania terenu

site development project

designed by: Michal Janowiak

The building is inspired by the aesthetics of wooden churches from the region, their structural solutions and richness of details. The building is based on a glulam construction, characteristic of the Orava style.

The form of the building refers to the archetype of the Orava hut, which is distinguished by slowly falling roof slopes up to the contact with the ground with different slopes. This traditional treatment is contrasted by glazed surfaces, giving the building a modern aura. In addition to the church building, the study also included a stand-alone bell tower, the design of which corresponds with the temple through both the choice of materials and massing.

szkice odręczne

handwritten sketches

proj.: Michal Janowiak

Details adorning the main entrance to the church, such as the highlander's sash, also refer to regional traditions. Richly decorated doors lead to the church's main nave, which seats 418. The first floor, accessed by a staircase located at the front of the building, has an additional 84 seats.

wizualizacja

visualization

designed by Michal Janowiak

reverie inside and out

The external area of the church has been adapted for recreational functions. Thanks to the delineated paths and accompanying objects of small architecture, visitors can relax, indulge in reverie and admire the surrounding picturesque scenery. What's more, the area has been adapted to the needs of people with special mobility needs, such as those in wheelchairs, who can use the low-slope lamps.

wizualizacja

visualization

proj.: Michal Janowiak

The author was keen to emphasize the essence of human contact with nature, hence so many glazed surfaces in the facade of the designed building and the absence of barriers throughout the development area.

wizualizacja

visualization

proj.: Michal Janowiak

In the work of Michal Janowiak one can see interesting design solutions, which find application not only in residential or public architecture, but also in the sacred one.

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