Nadia Sajjad of the Faculty of Architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology decided to combine a bicycle and kayak tourism center with a nursing home for the elderly, creating a multifunctional facility in Jozefow on the Świder River. The project is an engineering thesis done under the direction of Jan Słyk, PhD.
Nadia Sajjad's main goal was to propose an alternative to a typical closed nursing home. The author wanted to combine several functions and take advantage of the advantages of the plot of land located by the river. The facility was designed in Jozefow, which is located about 30 km southeast of Warsaw. The towns of the Otwock Range, to which Jozefow belongs, have great spa potential due to the curative qualities of the climate, natural environment and rich cultural offer.
The facility is a combination of a sports and recreation center and a nursing home
© Nadia Sajjad
aging population
As the author states:
Jozefow is an immediate suburb of Warsaw, and will face an aging population in the near future. A desirable direction for development would be to take advantage of its natural assets and history. The creation of a facility tailored to the elderly, but also open to other age groups, promoting what is most valuable in the city, could be a big step towards Jozefow's development and preparation for the coming changes.
The garden has therapeutic and healing properties
© Nadia Sajjad
therapeutic garden
The site where Nadia designed the facility is located on the Swider River. There are very good conditions for canoeing, and numerous bicycle trails are conducive to excursions. That's why the newly constructed building was divided into two zones: a nursing home and a sports and recreation center. The bonding element between the two parts is a therapeutic garden, affecting the senses. The author created it by selecting appropriate plant species and small architecture. A path in wooden construction runs through the garden, reaching each of the designed buildings. The healing garden was created for the residents of the center, but it is also accessible to outsiders.
The grounds include a canoe pavilion and an observation tower
© Nadia Sajjad
mobile pavilion and observation tower
The layout of the buildings is related to the relief of the area descending towards the river. The dominant feature of the establishment is the bird-watching tower located in the center. At the lowest level, already in the protection zone of the Swider River Reserve, a mobile canoe pavilion was designed, which, due to its temporary nature, does not interfere with the protected zone. It is maintained on polyethylene tanks. It is possible to install an engine and move the pavilion to another location before the winter period. Along the shore a bicycle path has been included, which also leads to the pavilion, where it is possible to rent and repair a bicycle.
The wood-framed path winds throughout the area
© Nadia Sajjad
natural materials - earth and wood
Another important aspect of the project was the use of natural materials. The buildings were constructed using rammed earth (locally sourced) and timber frame technology. Massive rammed earth walls have many advantages - they are characterized by high accumulation capacity, natural absorption and evaporation of moisture from the building. Only in some places - joints of materials, or lintels will be used reinforcement and reinforced concrete technology. In contrast, large glazing will be built on a timber frame.
The buildings are made of natural materials
© Nadia Sajjad
As Nadia Sajjad justifies the choice of materials:
Nowadays, the measure of a building's environmental performance is the degree to which locally occurring materials are used and the primary energy requirements of a building. Many countries through legislation encourage the use of green materials and natural energy sources.
Respect for unique natural values and the desire to interfere as little as possible with the site were the main reasons for using rammed earth as one of the main building materials in the project. Waste in the production of the material, or the remains of demolition of buildings using this technology, does not cause environmental pollution, and the production of the material does not require large amounts of energy, thanks to the omission of the burning process, among other things.
compiled by Dobrawa Bies
illustrations courtesy of Nadia Sajjad
