The subject of the competition is the construction of a pavilion that will serve to inform tourists and citizens about the future sports and tourist complex on the newly built artificial lake in the city of Cottbus.
The project task lists the following functions that the facility must fulfill:
– information area (with a counter and a cloakroom)
– video presentations room, which can accommodate a group of at least 60 people
– toilets
– a room to put up additional posters about the history of the lake and a map of the lake
– maximum number of floors of the facility P+1
The facility location is an undeveloped open space without a defined purpose in the very center of the city. It is easily accessible to tourists and residents (on foot, by bicycle, by car, tram and bus). Surrounded by public buildings, it would attract a large number of people, who, however, would not linger in the area for a long time.
Given that the facility is located in the very center of the city and in a heavy-traffic location, the main criterion when designing the facility was for it’s position not to represent a physical barrier for users. Another requirement was to maintain the existing insufficiently maintained pedestrian paths and not to violate with the new facility the character of the existing area as a green belt along the main tram route. In addition, the existing green area should be protected from the current noise, as well as activated with new content.
As the plot borders a noisy road on its eastern side, the positioning of the facility was planned as close to the road as possible. This would give the facility an additional role as a “sound barrier” for the given plot and the forecourt of the Main Post Office (which, according to the planning documentation, should be converted into a square in the future, and is currently used as a parking lot). In addition to the facility and additional planting of appropriate greenery, the area next to the facility would be safer and more pleasant for extended use.
Due to the above, concrete was chosen as the building material for the facility. For the purpose of sustainability and profitability of the facility, it was designed so that in addition to the given functions, it could also fulfill additional contents. The facility could be maintained after the planned period as a permanent city pavilion.
The idea for the design of the facility came from the shape of the plot (which is elongated), as well as from the basic function of the facility (information). The facility was therefore conceived as a “strip” that unwinds from the main city square towards the shopping center (from north to south) and thus spontaneously providing information about the development and history of Lake Cottbus. This strip closes completely in certain parts, whilst in others it is half-open or completely open.
The main room of the pavilion is closed and in addition to its main purpose (video presentations), it can also be used for other purposes of cultural and social events (exhibitions, workshops, etc.). In the semi-closed space, an additional function is proposed – a cafe, which extends through two floors.
The walls of the facility are informative. Since they belong to an open space, they offer users daily information. In this way, in addition to tourists and conscious visitors, we wanted to attract random passers-by to become interested in the future lake.
A sandy substrate is planned for the paths around the facility, partially permeating it. This material was chosen because it is associated with the beach.
