adam wiercinski provides poland with a periscope by the baltic sea

adam wiercinski provides poland with a periscope by the baltic sea
all images courtesy of adam wiercinski architekt

the idea for adam wiercinski‘s ‘seaside periscope’ project is closely related to its surrounding context by the baltic sea in poland. the public facility has views of the ocean with extended pathways that will help establish the design as a tourist attraction. creating these spaces of observation within the interior is a periscope, a mirrored mechanism that is commonly seen in the gun turrets of armored vehicles and the telescopes of submarines. here, wiercinski uses the device on a large scale by placing an upper mirror at a height of 4 meters above the ground, bringing sunlight into the restrooms while providing a scene that is unobstructed by motorists and pedestrians navigating along the exterior boulevard.

interior of the bathroom with the periscope reflecting an image of the sea while housing pebbles

although the monolithic structure owes its shape to the hidden reflective operation, the rounded arcade and use of raw materials resembles characteristics seen in the nearby bulkhead, a sloped composition of rocks meant to reduce the magnitude of waves and prevent coastal corrosion. as this form blends within the landscape, a tribune occupies the gap between the men’s and women’s restrooms, allowing people to sit down relax within nature. its wooden construction has the ability hold a larger group of people in comparison to traditional benches. this acts as a warm complement to the consistent use of concrete throughout the lavatory. free space underneath the periscope construction is filled with huge pebbles, referencing the adjacent architectural typologies.

back view of the structure

front view with the tribune situated between the windows

elevations

formal diagrams

explanation of the periscope

simple axonometric drawing of the massing

cross section through the landscape

structural section of the the mirrors reflecting views and light

plan 

site plan

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.