European Solidary Center
Gdansk, Poland 2007The proposal for the European Solidarity Centre (ESC) in Gdańsk uses the contour of the city's historic center as the basis for its spatial organization. Through a three-dimensional interpretation of the Nolli Map, the project rearranges the volumes of the architectural program so that the voids between them structure the building. This operation creates a complex that is vertically articulated by catwalks, terraces, and winter gardens, integrating public circulation areas with spaces of restricted use.
Our proposal for the European Solidary Center follows 3 basic schematic moves:
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Outline a specific area in the historic center of Gdańsk – say, around St. Mary's Church. After "nolli-mapping" it (black=private / white=public), transport its contour to the ESC site. This will serve as the basis for the ESC design. We will then manipulate the figure: the Nolli Map goes 3D. Thus, we will relate the ESC voids to the strong character of Gdańsk: freedom, openness, tolerance, cosmopolitism.
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Turn the Nolli Map into a section. Spread the different parts of the program precisely, calculating their relationship as if they were the private ("black") parts of the buildings. The white background is the public area of the entrance hall and the general circulation system connecting different parts of the program. However, some parts represented in black in the elevation are freely open to the public: the exhibitions halls, John Paul II Hall, restaurant, and multi-functional halls. We can say that these "black" bars are actually "white" in the original Nolli Map: indoor spaces that are as public as outdoor spaces. Therefore, the black refer to parts of much more restricted access (NGO's, offices, services).
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Shuffle the bars. The voids between them become the main matter of the building: 'randomness' as a careful arrangement of spaces between the programs. Voids as in the new (post World War II) blocks of the Main Town and its backyards. The outdoor spaces will spread over the terraces zoned as: leisure, contemplation, performances, and other functions. Laid out in the voids they will form a patchwork of outdoor public activities in synergy with each other. Outdoor programs will be connected with a network of covered/uncovered terraces, accessible from a series of catwalks and from within the building. We have manipulated the geometry of the original Gdańsk voids to give way to vertical articulation of voids and terraces connected with pathways creating a complex of decks and winter gardens and open or covered open spaces.
European Solidarity Center
Gdansk, Polônia
2007
Arquitetos: Bruno Campos, Marcelo Fontes, Silvio Todeschi, Carlos Teixeira, Flávio Agostini, Antônio Valladares.
Equipe: Wallace, João Paulo Lima, Nívia Teixeira e Paola Vulcano
Área: 22.912m²
