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Location: Hrabina Water Reservoir

The Hrabina Reservoir is located in the western part of the town of Český Těšín, in the area between the road bypassing the town to the Chotěbuz border crossing and the road leading from Havířov through Český Těšín to the town of Třinec. Lípová Street and the main road to Havířov or Ostravská Street lead to the dam. The reservoir was built in the Hrabina Valley on the Hrabinka River in 1953 and covers an area of less than 9 hectares. The reservoir is mainly used for flood protection, sport fishing and recreational purposes.

The dam was built in the 1950s as a recreational area for the inhabitants of Český Těšín. Construction works were carried out by the Třinecké stavby company in 1953. The reservoir was surrounded by beaches, there was a restaurant and a clubhouse of the boating club of Třinec Ironworks. In 1962, the first fishing competitions were held there

TASK – ro create picnic spot 

For centuries, food has shaped how we function as a community, influenced interpersonal relationships, as well as the relationship between man and the surrounding nature. Joint meals have always been an integral part of community formation, as well as any meetings and celebrations. The role of food in the shaping of cities and public spaces has been described by Carolyn Steel in the book „Sitopia”, where it indicates the role that food, celebration of food in accordance with nature and joint meals with the loved ones play in the contemporary shaping of urban spaces. 

The most frequently visited places in any city are places gathering people at joint meals, cafes, restaurants, seats conducive to eating snacks during a walk, as well as parks and green spaces where you can spread a blanket, organize a picnic. 

The culture of eating in nature dates back to the 18th century and has evolved over the years from an activity reserved for the aristocracy to a form of leisure available to all. 

 

GUIDELINES:
  • Picnic furniture or a set of picnic furniture dedicated to recreation for people walking around the Zapora Hrabianki (Eng. Earl’s Dam). 
  • The facility is to serve both individual users strolling in nature as a place to stop and rest, as well as smaller groups (up to 12 people) looking for a place to meet in the open air. 
  • The project should include a comfortable place for recreation suitable for all age groups, with particular emphasis on families with children and the elderly.
  • The facility should open visually to a water reservoir and fit into the surrounding landscape. The furniture could use the existing slope in the direction of water.
  • Shading and protective elements in case of bad weather will be appreciated. 
  • The elements should be multifunctional and suitable for pleasant leisure time: both sitting and lying down, as well as enabling eating in nature. 
  • The objects should be easily adaptable to the ideas and creativity of its users. 

 

FINAL RESULTS

The NOMAD studio, together with the students, created a picnic piece of furniture on the Hrabianka Dam called Piknikovna. As a result of their work, wooden furniture for shared dining and recreation was created, intended especially for families who are willing to visit this place not only on weekends. The form of the piece of furniture uses the natural slope of the terrain, connecting the main walking path with the water reservoir. The piece of furniture is divided into three segments that fulfill the main functions of EAT-PLAY-CHILL. The first segment (EAT) from the side of the walking path – making it easily accessible to all users regardless of age and movement limitations is a large table – that can accommodate up to 10 people, allowing for joint meetings, sharing and celebrating while eating. Another zone (PLAY) is intended for children – so that they can spend time actively in the open air – playing and climbing on the furniture structure. This segment, apart from play space, also offers users additional outdoor benches that are suitable for lying or sitting in various configurations in larger groups. Above the reservoir itself, there are CHILL seats that frame different views and allow you to choose the sunny or shaded side. The thickening of the roofing material towards the surface of the water creates an interesting play of light and shade. In this part, the platform facing the water has the most intimate nature and allows you to fully experience the closeness of nature alone or with several people.

Participiants:

Maciej Misiak, Daria Kaczmarzewska, Wiktor Zielonka, Agnieszka Nuczyporuk, Klaudia Kurzacz, Paulina Pasztalaniec, Julia Ciężar, Tereza Kusnierzová

Tutor: NOMAD

Architects from Latvia

Marija Katrina Dambe + Florian Betat

NOMAD architects is a small and young architecture office based in Latvia with a strong focus on sustainability.

The core idea of their architectural projects, ranging from small installations to family houses, is to combine design with sustainability and affordability. Office use these projects also as educational tools which should help and encourage the wider public to build sustainable.

NOMAD architects as members of professional workgroups and networks like “Latvian Architects Declare Climate & Biodiversity Emergency” and “URGE – Circular building cities” try to highlight on a national level the necessity for a more sustainable building industry.