Student participiants:
Dawid Konopka, Paweł Siemaszko, Hanna Butryn, Aleksandra Kowańska, Krisztina Ferencz, Emese Inczédy, Ákos Reizinger
Jakub Martiška, Kevin Valient, Dominik Mettler
Location: Malta Lake- Cybina Valley
Lake Malta, known also as the Maltański Reservoir, is an artificial lake in Poznań. It was formed in 1952 as a result of the damming of the Cybina River. It is about 2.2 km long (with the circuit of 5,6 km), which makes the lake the biggest man-made lake of the city. The water is 3.1 m deep on average with a maximum about 5 m. There are a number of recreational attractions along the edge of the lake including: an artificial ski slope, an artificial ice rink, a zoological garden, Kolejka Parkowa Maltanka – a narrow railway, the Mound of Freedom, seasonal bikes rental – MaltaBike
The lake also has one of the oldest man-made rowing venues in Europe – The Malta Regatta Course. This dates back to 1952 and has held a number of Rowing World Cup events.
The lake also gives its name to the Malta theatre festival, held in Poznań annually in June, with some of the shows taking place next to the lake.
TASK – to create birdwatching spot
Bird-watching is becoming an increasingly popular way to spend time in the city. Ornithotherapy is mentioned in the literature, pointing to the therapeutic power of seeing birds living alongside us, humans. Swedish researcher Marcus Hedblom and his team have extensively reviewed publications on the effects of contact with birds on the well-being of city dwellers, showing that contact with birds improves well-being. Watching and listening to birds sing can create positive memories and reduce the stress levels. Interestingly, these positive reactions become stronger, the more bird species we observe and notice. The practice of observing and listening to birds is also a great way to develop and train mindfulness, perceptiveness and memory, because it requires focus on sounds, shapes, colours and movement. Bird-watching can therefore be a way of taking care of health during the post-pandemic period, when many people are struggling with nervous system complications.
GUIDELINES
The observatory is designed to allow 2-3 people to conveniently observe the pond surface and the surrounding area, providing an opportunity for intimate contact with nature. It should meet several principles:
– the structure should be designed to allow people to be masked from the side of the lake, to provide shelter for observers from wind and rain, but at the same time to allow a view inside from the pedestrian routes,
– when designing the structure, safety (including for children) and comfort should be a primary consideration,
– the side walls can also be used as a place to display information on rules of use, a list of locally occurring bird species
FINAL RESULTS
A group of participants led by Zoltán Major and Péter Müllner of the Hungarian studio Partizan Architecture created a design for a small ornithological observatory called „Ambona” on one of the concrete platforms facing the lake. A simple openwork structure with a small viewing platform, sheltered on one side by lush reeds. In the opinion of the participants and the birdwatching enthusiasts consulting on the project, it is the ideal place to immerse oneself peacefully in the surrounding nature. The pavilion that has been created is intended to provide users with comfort, shade, and a safe place for rest and tranquillity – virtually in the heart of the city. The simple form was inspired by the tall reeds surrounding the pavilion – hence the choice of long, tightly stacked, slender beams – which frame the view of the lake, and the sun’s reflections on the surface of the reservoir – which, by leaving a „window” onto the water’s mirror reflected by the sun, create luminous mirages and illuminations on the pavilion walls.
Tutor: Partizian Architecture
Architects from Hunagry
Partizan Architecture was established in 2013 in Budapest. The studio currently formed by Zoltán Major and Péter Müllner. The practical and theoretical activities of the group include architectural and interior design, furniture and installation design, as well as the production of public art projects and researches in the field of the built environment.
The name Partizan Architecture refers to the tactics of partisan warfare, whose reinterpretation in architecture constitutes the collective’s conceptual base toward space production. Highly organized, formal architectural strategies are usually slow and static. However, 'partizanarchytecture’ implements tools that enable spontaneous adaptation to the rapidly changing spatial environment and user needs.