Schindler's Ark - museum and suistainable residential development

Silesian University of Technology, (Politechnika Śląska), Faculty of Architecture, Gliwice

Project idea

The main goal during the design of the residential development was to extend the continuity of the buildings that are above the development site. The designed new road becomes the centre along which the new buildings are created. Brněnec is a village and this is intended to be a reference to the way in which villages were formed, where services and the most intensive development were often concentrated around the main road, which then spread further away from the centre. Alongside this, the main aim was to preserve and restore as much as possible all the existing buildings on both the northern and southern part.

Project description

In the northern part, it was decided to preserve and renovate all the existing buildings and give them their proper functions. The exception is one of the halls, which is demolished and replaced by a green area with a road connecting the pedestrian area leading to the museum and the existing structure of another hall, which is now greened. The green area complements the education and business centre and the museum by providing an additional place to spend time, which can be used to organise various additional activities. The largest hall is divided into meeting rooms, auditoriums and exhibition halls, which can be accessed from the open lobby. The space between the halls forms a wide hall, which can be used for trade fairs and additional exhibitions.

In the southern area, the existing buildings will be preserved, renovated, and repurposed. I wanted one of the existing buildings to have a particularly special function, so I decided to create something a sort of neighborhood community center with space for hosting various types of parties and events. This way, it will not only maintain its historical context in relation to the architecture but also become a new, important element for the residents. Modularity will be achieved by designing buildings with the same dimensions and enlarging or reducing them by a specific module.

The proposed design solution includes planning numerous private and semi-private spaces in the residential area, featuring many recreational areas for the elderly (raised gardens, allotment gardens) as well as for younger residents (playgrounds, a multifunctional sports field). Additionally, each apartment will have access to common areas within the building.

Technical information

Four of the buildings have been designed with shed roof constructions to relate to the post-industrial character of the site. Two of the buildings have car parks on the ground floors, on whose roofs a garden and semi-private space is designed, but there are also private terraces. Other buildings have roof gardens, which can be used for recreation but also for services.

The buildings of the residential development will be constructed using traditional technology with both external and internal structural walls. Facade wooden boards will be attached to the external wall structures. The shed roofs have a wooden structure, covered with flat sheets, to which solar panels are attached to collect energy
Specific solutions for blue-green infrastructure have been proposed, such as solar panels, permeable surfaces, e.g. at the museum the use of paving stones with grass growing in between. Partially green roofs are located over the car parks, and rainwater collection is solved by collecting water in barrels that are located next to the buildings.

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