Shelter for a wanderer

SHELTER FOR A WANDERER
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Bsc Diploma Project at Warsaw University of Technology
Author: Natalia Okolus
2014

ABSTRACT

The subject of the project is a bicycle shelter located by the route ‘Zielona 7’ – an
alternative, bicycle road leading from Warsaw to Gdansk. The route ‘Zielona 7’ is an
interesting initiative, definitely worth supporting. It suits perfectly the trend of healthy
lifestyle, promoting physical activity and, what is more, allows to develop tourism,
discover interesting places in Poland and promote them. One of the regions which
can take advantage of ‘Zielona 7’ is Northern Mazovia. Decision to locate refuge in
Sochocin, Mazovia, 70 kilometers to north from Warsaw was taken after thorough
analysis of values and needs of the route as well as after assessment, what such type
of a building can offer to the area.

WANDERER PROFILE

In the begining I was wondering who exactly is a contemporary wanderer as I wanted to define his needs. Later it occured that there is no standard profile of the wanderer and on the route You can meet either a solitary or family with children, group of friends or organised trips. There are also many different ways to travel like riding by bike, going by foot, using canowe and , many others. The conclusion of this might be that the shelter must be rather universal to fit to everybody’s needs.

LOCATION

Project is located in Sochocin - small village 70 km from Warsaw. On Sochocin, which is destined to be a touristic locality, refuge may have a significant impact. The locality is crossed by picturesque Wkra river. There is a plan to build on the river a retention reservoir, locaed next to Sochocin. It is going to have recreational functions as well. Locating the shelter in such a place like Sochocin I started thinking about: What the building can give local community?

MEANING FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY

As the plot is located near the center of the village and it has a good connection with the river, it can become an important place also for local people. Strengers who visit Sochocin as they are traveling through “Zielona 7” shouldn’t take over the place. The plot can serve local people as a space of recreation.

CONCEPT

The main assumption of the project is to combine two different functions and two
different groups of users. One of them are wanderers looking for peace and rest,
whereas the second are the inhabitants of Sochocin who can find in the shelter
possibilities for social and physical activities.

SPACE FOR WANDERERS
closed, centripetal and limited space

SPACE FOR NATIVES

open, centrifugal, unlimited space

SPACE FOR BOTH GROUPS

FORM

The architecture of the building follows the functional division. Inside wanderers –

hidden, safe and outside local people - making use of all functions open for plot
area, connected with everything around the building.

To obtain such kind of division
I applied the circle plan where internal circle is intended to be a shelter and external
is the area for local people. Both places are separated from each other by a stone
wall which is one of the main construction elements of the building. The other
construction elements are wooden frames. Such arrangement allows to separate
refuge and recreational functions and, at the same time, opening them for the
courtyard and surrounding plot. Such form is emphasized by the shape of building
roof. The building was designed to have wooden construction. The main materials
used for it have natural origin – wooden frames and stone wall. What is more, for wall
construction local cobblestones can be used.

Symetrical and centric layout was fitted to the exact plot. The cetral point of the external circle was moved. That action caused changes not only in the plan but also in the shape of the building. This simple gesture opens the building to the south. Bigger space created in the southern side of the building is reserved for social functions while northern - thinner part is used as a technical space. A height of the building is changing as well as a shape of the roof.