wiercinski studio integrates cultural pavilion clad in black wood into historic park in poland

amidst a historic polish park and adjacent to the warta river, a cultural pavilion was designed by wiercinski studio. located only 3 km from the city center and surrounded by the cycling path ‘wartostrada’, the pavilion is nestled within an active, popular area in poznan city, poland.

the city commissioned wiercinski studio to design a local community center, with public gardens and a resting place, in the previously abandoned plot. the pavilion is located at the entrance of the 2800 sqm plot, followed by ample gardens with patches grown by residents and spaces for classes and workshops. the project also includes a children’s play area and scattered wooden terraces for residents of the city to enjoy and relax.

the black, wooden cultural pavilion at the entrance welcomes the residents into the open green area. the building is equipped for year-round use with a simple form and sits at the highest point of the site, with the best views of the surrounding nature and river.  

the pavilion was built in a light wooden frame construction and placed on 19 concrete columns, due to the sloping terrain. this not only keeps the floor level at the ground level of the entrance path, but also provides convenient access for the disabled. the roof’s direction and shape results from a simple and economical construction and opens with a south-eastern façade towards the river. rainwater from the roof is drained to the barrel and used to water the garden. 

part of the building was cut to create a roofed entrance zone and a passage to the terrace. this solution takes advantage of the terrace space, accessible for wheelchair users, even when the pavilion is closed. in the wall closing the passage to the terrace a large opening was cut, which frames the view of szelagowski park from the interior of the pavilion.

the layout of the windows on the façade has been arranged in such a way as to frame the appropriate views from the interior. the windows face towards the park, river, sky and the social gardens, and in addition they let in the appropriate amount of sunlight using economical window sizes. the seemingly random window composition, with different sizes and colors of window frames, refers to the garden arbor architecture.

the building is finished with larch boards colored black. a simple steel balustrade is consistent with the color of other steel objects on the plot. the building’s functional area of 60 m2 includes a multifunctional room for cultural and educational purposes, restroom and social room. the dark, little cultural cabin blends in with the nature, providing a learning and resting space for the community. 

project info:

architecture: wiercinski studio

location: poznan city, poland

type: public, pavilion, culture, cabin

size: 60 m2 building / 2800 m2 garden

year: 2018

client: miasto poznan

team: agnieszka owsiany, adam wiercinski

landscape: zuza hybiak

photo: przemyslaw turlej, adam wiercinski

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.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom