Student Cave of Technology

Project idea

The topic of the engineering project is the Conceptual Design of a Student Zone using modern technology in Gliwice. During a brief interview among students, numerous opinions said that there is a lack of a place to spend time in between classes. The main idea behind the project is for the student to be able to use a simulation capsule to see what it's like to function in the building they designed. Additional features of the facility are designed to accommodate outside guests in the convention hall and to hold exhibitions of works prepared by students. After reading the book "Eyes of the Skin," the idea came up that the building should open up to other senses than just the sense of sight, so ubiquitous in today's architecture. From this came the lack of many window openings, and the use of numerous skylights, which are arranged to take in as much natural light as possible during the day.

Project description

The proposed Building will consist of 3 main floors. The building is divided into two main zones, a student zone and an event zone. The created exhibition zone will be the link between the two main zones. The characteristic cubes protruding from the body of the building will face the sun, so that light enters the building at all times of the day. The entrance area, in the shape of a truncated pyramid, has an opening at the top through which light will pour in, and it is also the highest point of the entire building, making it even easier for the potential user to find the entrance.

The designed facility will have 6 functions: a desk area, simulation capsules, a lunch room, an exhibition area, a congress hall and a restaurant. The functions have been divided up based on the intended use. The most striking feature from the perspective of a passer-by is the entrance area, which is clearly higher than the rest of the building; right next to it, the most important part of the building will be the desk work area, above which the simulation capsules seem to levitate. A lunch room area is also provided, allowing students to reheat their prepared meals. From the entrance area, it is possible to move to a more enclosed exhibition area, from which it is possible to move to a second more covered entrance area, open mainly for events. The event zone has a designed congress hall, with a restaurant underneath.

Technical information

The building was designed on a near-square plan. It will be divided into three dilated parts. The expansion joint width between the designed structural elements will be 5cm and in some cases 25cm. The building structure has been designed predominantly with 25cm x 25cm steel I-beams. A structural grid has been adopted at 5m intervals throughout most of the building. However, in the desk work area, the structural axes result from the truss-based roof form. The designed capsules will be attached to the roof truss.

Documentation

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