Peninsula Garbary – Transformation of the former Powerhouse Complex

Poznań University of Technology (Politechnika Poznańska), Faculty of Architecture, Poznań

Project idea

The main cause for creating the project has been the observation of the condition of many Polish river banks. Occurrence of numerous neglected and degraded areas has provoked questions about the possibility of reversing the existing situation. The project idea is seeking connections between rivers/lakes and the urban structure of the city . The design is based on the search for universal principles and assumptions revealing the potential of water boulevards. Analysis of rivers in a global context and attempts to meet social needs have led to the creation of a general strategy whose expression is a designed river peninsula. This area is intended to create a spatial archetype, a symbol of a new holistic approach to the design of river banks. Important point of the project is to develop strong and dynamic link between the river and the city i.e. riverine areas. Both the structure of city and river are considered in the category of a living organism, which one element is driven by a man and the other by natural factors. Combination of two such strong and different systems requires appropriately planned binder, which in a flexible way will combine the mobility of possible structures placed on water and lasted nature of urban spaces. The main point of the strategy has been the development of a flexible approach to the formation of boulevards, which, thanks to the prospects of using mobile architecture, provide opportunities for point activation of selected river areas (Architectural Puzzle). The linear nature of the river (a natural link between cities – increased range of interaction) combined with the ability to use an effective design approach (each element of the mobile architecture can be used along the entire river) marks a new direction in shaping the boulevards. The area of peninsula itself is the space that houses the complex of the former powerhouse, whose main buildings becoming are part of a broad plan of transformation of the river area. The approach to dividing the space within the peninsula is to reflect the assumptions developed in the strategy, thus forming a benchmark for other river areas.

Project description

SPATIAL ARCHETYPE:
Green part of the Peninsula Garbary: Outside part of the plot – River Boulevard – is designed to provide transition/link between the urban interior, created in the central part of the area, and surrounding it river. Urban mobility and flexibility are visible in the entire green area, which is densely covered with internal ponds. From one side, they have retention function, on the other are intended to store and use floating architectural elements. That's why ponds are not only anti-flood solution but also water park that gives endless possibility of arrangement. With a use of mobile elements, floating on the river, park can be transform into ...depend on the current needs. This system gives huge flexibility of use at the same time combines effective architecture.

Urban part of the Peninsula Garbary: Transformation of an old Powerhouse building into the new vibrant space that will help to revitalized this industrial part of the city. The goal is to create an architectural heart of the peninsula with simply and geometrical urban arrangement, becoming part of composition of the existing Electrical Power and Heating Plant objects. Simple and clear plan is in harmony with square areas, creating a smooth and free connection of the boulevards with buildings. Geometrical layout objects, standing in opposition to the natural area, from one side shows an interesting contrast between free plant forms and geometrical layout of lumps, on the other harmonious and balanced dialogue with nature and architecture.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
The spatial layout is divided into four basic levels: water, boulevards, urban square and block of building development. The gradual transition from natural zone to newly formed urban plan is aimed to become a part of direction formed in the phase of drawing up of the development strategy of the Warta River. The spatial archetype is designed to comply with the basic rules: to constitute the element of Mobile Linear City, to demonstrate flexibility and mobility of the form, to perform “stock” functions, in a consistent way to combine static urban character with natural area, to demonstrate adaptability, as well as development potentialities through the interaction with other river areas.

The geometrical and simple layout of buildings in the square is divided into two. From one side, there is a dense block of objects standing in the line of Electrical Power and Heating Plant; on the other side are free lumps of smaller volume architectural elements, located in the western part of the plot. Buildings from the eastern side are designed to focus most of the planned basic functions for the peninsula, constituting the geometrical sequence, which reflects the direction of space development. The western side is a combination of the square with complementary functions; it provides flexible space for use, adapted to outdoor events. A water stream is spatial binder breaking the geometry of urban layout – connecting ponds with the area of the square. The green part of peninsula constitutes the parking space, which the main element is water body. This area is the most important functional binder between the peninsula and river area, which task is storage and use of mobile architectural elements.

PONDS - MOBILE, RIVER ARCHITECTURE
The northern part of the plot, as flood danger zone, was enriched with the system of water bodies. From the functional side, they are elements becoming a part of previously formulated design principles, while from the natural point of view they are designed to protect the area against flooding. Water bodies can be regulated both naturally and artificially, thanks to easily are adapted to seasonal variability of the river and functional needs.

The basic principle of reservoirs, in the context of mobile architecture, is based on mechanical water level regulation (in case of low water levels in the reservoirs – in order to transfer mobile river objects, the water must temporarily raise its level). Thanks to elevated platforms, constituting hiking-cycling tracks, movement all over the area is possible even by the very high level of waters.

The green belt has the task to create a water park, which integral elements are objects floating on the water. Thanks to this storage system, they can be used in the area of the peninsula, where they enrich the area function. Stored architectural objects can be used to create small events in the sheltered place of a park, in which perception of the same objects radically differs from those created in the opened area.

EFFECTIVE TEMPORARINESS
Over the years, an important trend became the need of temporary space for both the city and undeveloped areas. Numerous concerts, sporting events, seasonal pavilions, exhibitions, etc. show the need for temporary transformation of the space. In case of traditional methods (e.g. building pavilions) there is a need for cyclical disassembly and re-construction, which also includes required transport of objects. The entire action generates an increase of expenses, as well as loss of the quality and durability of building construction.

In case of using mobile properties of water, this significantly reduces the time and effort associated with transport and assembly. Considering possible situations of using temporary objects (e.g. in case of several-day sports competitions, concerts, etc.) we are able to easily observe the positive effects of proposed system. Thanks to the mobility of rivers and lakes we can easily expand e.g. the sports town, creating both residential area and supplementing the missing recreational objects. Different variations of using floating structures cause that this system is much simpler and more effective than traditional structures.

Technical information

Currently on the peninsula is located complex of the Grabary Electrical Power and Heating Plant, which ended its activity in 2016. The arrangement of buildings is concentrated around the main object, which was built in the area as first. Over time additional objects were built creating the shape of complex existing until today. The north part of the plot is a flood danger zone, which along with the change of seasons is flooded by Warta waters. For reasons of flood threat on this part of the area, none bigger architectural objects were built.

Buildings created in accordance with the first stage of the plan were supposed to meet the need of electricity up to 1939. However, the city planner’s estimation turned out to be incorrect and the power station was twice enlarged already before the war. In 1954, after the decision to shut down the power plant on Grobla, the Garbary power station has become the only supplier of electricity in Poznań. Reconstruction of the object to the Electrical Power and Heating Plant took place in the 1960s of the 20th century. Since the creation of new plant on Karolina, the building complex on Garbary gradually lost its importance. In 1974, there has been a takeover by Karolina of thermal energy production, and in 1984 also electric energy production. The old Electrical Power and Heating Plant, in case of a significant drop in temperature, up to 2016 constituted the support for the Karolin Electrical Power and Heating Plant. The last heating season of Garbary complex took place in 2015/16.

Co-authors

supervisor: Arch. K. Borowski, PhD, Eng.