Student participants:
Maria Pawłowa,Wojciech Smyczek, Michał Teodorczyk, Tobiasz Obrębski, Johannes Koenig,Luna Gosebruch, Miryana Petrova, Yannick Möbiu, Dārta Anda Šenberga, Liene Sondore, Ada Kocieniewska
Location: Kobylepole- Browarny Pond
One of the first mentions of the Kobylepole village concerns its takeover by the Mycielski family in 1562, which managed the area until 1945. It was one of the most powerful families in the Wielkopolska Province, which obtained the title of nobility after gaining merit in the battle of Grunwald.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Stanisław Mycielski was an independence activist and openly supported the Wielkopolska Province Uprising when Napoleonic troops entered the region.
In 1872, in the area adjacent to the village, out of the initiative of Count Władysław Mycielski, the Kobylepole brewery was built, which became famous for the quality of its beverages. The beer was known not only in Poznań, where it was possible to drink it in almost every pub, but also in Gdańsk, Dresden, Leipzig and Turin where almost all types of local beers were created on the basis of barley grown in the region.
The Browany pond’ name is related to the monument of industrial architecture located on its shore – Browar Mycielskich (pol. Browar – brewery). The total area of the pond is 8.3 ha, and the depth does not exceed 180 cm.
The shores around the pond are covered with lake-edge vegetation, e.g. common reed, cattail, manna, bulrush or sedges, which form the reed bed. Reed bed plants are rooted at the bottom of the pond and their stems, leaves and flowers rise above the water surface. A little further from the shore, behind the strip of reed in deeper places of the pond, there are plants with floating leaves. The rich development of rush vegetation created favourable nesting conditions for many species of birds. The most popular bird species found here are: waxwing, common buzzard, sparrow hawk, long-eared owl, tawny owl, common cuckoo, blackbird, robin, common moorhen, mallard duck, head duck, tufted duck, goldeneye, great crested grebe, Black-necked grebe, marsh harrier and mute swan.
NEEDS
The observatory is intended to allow convenient observation of the pond surface and the water area for several people, giving the possibility of intimate contact with nature. It should meet several rules:
The construction should be designed to allow cover of persons from the lake side, to protect observers from wind and rain and at the same time provide insight into the middle from the side of the path.
– the element should be permanently attached to the ground, which is to ensure its stability.
-the side walls can also be a place to publish information on the activities undertaken by the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Poznań, the Babki Forest District in order to protect birds or on bird recognition. The information may be presented, for example, in the form of a QR code or boards (examples of boards and iconography implemented by the State Forests National Forest Holding
FINAL RESULTS
The bird observatory consists of two levels separating the people who pass by incidentally from those who are specifically interested in watching birds and creating a welcoming atmosphere for both. The lower level goes to the waterfront, utilizing the floor of the upper level as a shelter to protect birdwatchers from harsh weather conditions and making it comfortable to spend a few hours in the pavilion. The space between the upper and lower levels is suitable for laying or sitting which are the most common and enjoyable birdwatching positions. Furthermore, underneath the second level we chose to incorporate a place for equipment storage that hides between the bearing structure. Besides, the birdwatching process is made even more pleasant with additional furniture, designed to be convertible and assist anyone spending a long time at the observatory. Thus, making the space even more flexible by allowing our user to enjoy different views from a single point. The upper platform attracts the accidental passersby and offers a chance to stop and take in the beautiful views of the pond, while also giving the opportunity to learn more about the most common birds in Kobylepole – their silhouettes are engraved in the construction and paired with QR codes
Tutor: Nomad architects
Architects from Germany and Latvia
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.