In 2015, the competition to develop a concept for a multifunctional building in the village of Wielka Wieś was decided. We waited several years for the realization of the winning work by Paprocki Architects and REAKTOR48 Design Group. This year the building of the Great Village TSO was put into use. We talk about the project and its implementation with architect Marcin Paprocki.
Thecharacterful, two-story building with fins on the facade is located in Wielka Wieś. The building combines several functions. It houses, among others, the premises of the volunteer fire department, the Wielkowsianka band, a senior citizens' club and a youth common room. The multifunctional hall is designed for village meetings, meetings of the Village Council and meetings of the Rural Housewives' Circle.
The project for the building of the Great Village TSO received first prize
Photo: Katarzyna Baczyńska © Paprocki Architekci, REAKTOR48 Design Group
Dobrawa Bies: The building won first place in the competition for the design of the concept of a multipurpose building in the village of Wielka Wieś in 2015. A lot of time has passed since that date, now the building is practically ready. Have any changes been made to the original design? How did the work proceed?
Marcin Paprocki: It took some time, that's a fact. This somewhat long time was due to the need for a point change in the Municipality's Local Land Use Plan, which took a lot of time, but also to the procedure for selecting a contractor. Construction was also spread out over a longer-than-average time.
In principle, only one significant change was made to the project, which was the addition of an additional ground floor, giving the building additional functions. This was due to the practical use of conditions we encountered during the design, which were not known before the competition. After preparing a map for design purposes and geological surveys, it turned out that due to the greater-than-assumed slope of the terrain and the depth of the soil bearing layers, it was worth considering making an additional ground floor. And so it was done. Apart from this change, the rest was done in accordance with the competition work.
The architects made an additional ground floor
Photo: Katarzyna Baczyńska © Paprocki Architekci, REAKTOR48 Design Group
Dobrawa: What was your priority in this project?
Marcin Paprocki: The priority was to design a building that accommodates the rich and varied function required by the investor, with a distinctive, modern, easily memorable architecture. We wanted the building to be an interesting landmark along a busy national road. Thus, it was important for us to use diverse and good quality materials including glass, stone and wood (imitation wood).
competition visualization, characteristic laths on the facade
© Paprocki Architekci, REAKTOR48 Design Group
Dobrawa: The building is characterized by an interesting facade with laths and a compact body. What was the inspiration and what is the basis for the shape of the building?
Marcin Paprocki: There was no specific inspiration. The building is designed in such a way that the rooms intended for permanent residence have no windows on the side of the very busy and noisy national road No. 94. The only openings on this side are the garage doors of the TSO, windows and doors to the technical rooms, as well as the main entrance and the permanent facade of the lobby. That is, the facade is basically without openings. A huge flat spot. We were looking for a way to give this wall a third dimension. Hence the laths. Passing along the building, we see from a distance a wooden wall consisting of vertical planks that diverge from each other, revealing the gray plane of the wall behind them, then they come down and we see the wooden wall again. The laths extend into the field along the building, stretching this rhythm in the field. In addition, the laths give the correct proportions to the rather long block, stretching it out a bit vertically.
From the side of the national road, the building is virtually windowless
Photo: Katarzyna Baczyńska © Paprocki Architekci, REAKTOR48 Grupa Projektowa
The shape of the projection of the body of the building resulted primarily from the shape of the plot and the necessary accompanying development. On the other hand, the mass was constructed to overcome all the shortcomings of the plot and expose the assets of the site. On the one hand, an almost solid wall constituting a sound barrier against noise from the national road, and on the other hand, a glazed facade with balconies and a terrace facing the beautiful view of the scenic park with the Tatra Mountains in the background. It is worth mentioning that right next to the building a viewpoint has been designated in the MPZP.
Dobrawa: What caused you the greatest design difficulties, and what are you most proud of?
Marcin Paprocki: There were no major difficulties with this project. Maybe the rich and varied function, the significant slope of the site and the difficult geology were a bit of a challenge, but you certainly can't say they were a difficulty. We are proud, first of all, of the fact that the competition committee recognized our work as the best in the competition, and of the fact that the project was realized without major changes, especially in materials. Which, unfortunately, is often the case with realizations.
Illuminated laths create a rhythm
Photo: Katarzyna Baczyńska © Paprocki Architekci, REAKTOR48 Design Group
Dobrawa: The design of public buildings, is very different from the design of individual houses or apartments. Is it much more difficult? What are the limitations and what are the possibilities?
Marcin Paprocki: It is neither easier nor more difficult. Especially when it comes to administrative proceedings, which often play various tricks. It is simply different. When designing an individual house, you are dealing with a specific investor who will use the building. And it is he who makes the demand for functions, defines his dreams, needs. When designing apartments, one takes into account a certain standard imposed by the investor and the market, with the principles of shaping functions, ergonomics, regulations, but one designs for an unknown resident. This requires a very universal approach to the object, so that everyone can find something in it for themselves or at least accept a particular solution.
A public facility, on the other hand, in addition to the required function, can and even should have something unique in its form, shape, scale. It should be an object that can and even should be unique, controversial. Such a little freed from the regime of the standard, but absolutely constructed in accordance with the principles of ergonomics, with the needs of specific functions, with all safety rules, for all and for each individual.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
