ORIGIN
Great Kemeri bog Visitor centre 2018
THE IMPRESSION
…Once there was a chance to see the Kemeri Bog…
After that I thought to myself:Now that‘s the Umbilicus, the Drop, the Embryo,the Bud, the Arche, the Nest…Now that is the ORIGIN!
THE GOALS
The main goal is Creationthrough architecture asicon and harmony with nature, a creation of a visitor center as a base and a first step of the Journey into the Great Kemeri Bog.The Architecture is meant to give a clear message about this arrival –the arrival into a unique natural habitat, where all attention is given away to it’s beauty. Another goal is to create a Visitor center as an introduction and a link to the miracle of Kemeri Bog.
THE IDEA
The swamp is a vesselof the Beginning of life and Life itself. Such Vessel is described through metaphors of a bowl and a womb. We take a dimple and fill it with abundant cloth of greenery – this is our architectural idea.
However, the Bog is an unstable, waving space…. such is our dimple – it is leaning towards the visitors.
The Visitor center with its architecture, which is bare nature, is perceived as the Gate towards the Kemeri Bog.
SENSATION
The roof of the Dimple act as a field of learning, playground and a place for experience the form and content.
Archisculptural vessel is the formant of outer and inner space.In the exterior, on a flat surface, a surprising paradox is created - a sunken hill.
In the interior a mysterious existence is experienced – as if you are a fairylike observer, seeing the world out of depth.
The roof is illuminated along it’s perimeter. It is a manifestation of Nature more than Architecture. The roof is viewed from the east which is arriving spot.The western side of site gives views of the inner volume which is formed by the lurch of the roof. The volume is fathomed purely architecturally. The duality of visible-invisible, present-absent building, esapecially from dusk till dawn, would kindle a sense of a mystical site… which it is (the Bog).
THE INSTRUMENTS
The main instruments of expression – light and volumetric contrast.
A very bright and high and also dry space (the zone of cafe and the loby) pours into a low, swampy dark and humid room (gallery – the zone of a swampy theatre). The amorphic spring, dominating the combination of forms, is blended with strict round lines.
THE ACTION
The Site is split roughly in half. The zones are clearly divided with amorphic forms of lumbar grass, green hedge and other plants (see the list of landscaping elements).
The northeastern part of the site is to be covered in locally prevalent compacted siftings and used for parking cars (100 units), buses (4), campers (3) and a shed for bicycles (40). A zone for 5 tents is planned in this part. There is an additional building of showers and toilets for camping visitors planned there (see the masterplan of the site).
The southwestern part of the plot is the zone of the Visitor center. A natural meadow is chosen for covering the site. Wooden paths are the only solid coating here. A children’s playground is planned in the northwestern part of the site, a system of rope structures is prospective solution for the children;s outdoor games.
The main building is the Kemeri Bog Visitor Center. The entrances are from all sides of the building. The center has two main and three auxiliary entrances, the latter ones being used during the warm season of the year.
The action is happening in the circle, soft ringed forms provide ideal ergonomics and freedom of movement.
The Reception with box officeand souvenir sellingis planned in the southern side of the building.
The Cafe with bar stands in the southwestern side. Part of the cafe occupies a roofed terrace, also there is a possibility to use tables on the open terrace.
The Gallery is very specific amhiteatric space with low concave ceiling, deepening three steps/benches. Part of the gallery contains a shallow pool with an island. The dark space is a suitable theater of holograms, videoprojections and glowing objects, also a forceful educational minicenter. It is a ‚dark swamp‘ with inclusions of cognition.
The kitchen and staffsanitary units, also staffresting rooms are the only spaces planned not in the ground floor. They are planned in the first floor of a cylindrical volume, which on the outside is covered in a vast projection ot the Bog. The covering of this volume after the daytime acts as the main lighting of the center, the ‘Glowing Swamp’.
In the niches of the volume there are wardrobe and technical rooms (heating, water and ventilation appliances) planned.
The staff resting rooms can be usedas scientific or artistic residence whereas it is planned as an autonomous flat with a sanitary unit and a kitchen. The solar insolation is planned through skylights and windows.
Auxiliary buildings: bicycle shed (10×2,5;m 25m2); sanitary building (14x3m; 42m2)
KEY MATERIALS
The main materials are naturally grey wooden siding for ceilings, stucco and paint for walls and polyurethane floors, white.
The tables and chairs, cabinets and settees are to be white. The reception desk and bar are planned to be amber textured and transparent.
The interior of the main space benefits from steel colonnade, furthermore, the rhythm of columns is enriched with vertical ‘forest’ of LED light emitting stripes and spotlights. The stripes are placed above tables and in between in two different heights.
Cafe and Bar:outdoor terraces are to be covered with naturally grey larch siding. The furniture is planned to painted white.
Gallery:the ceiling is the same as of the main space – natural grey planks. The ceiling is concave. The stai/benches are made of wood, grey larch as well. The walls of the gallery are covered in black with peat brown shade colour.
Kitchen and sanitary unit with first floor’s resting room are covered in white paint except for external coating of the cylinder. The latter is covered in high definition photowallpaper and is lit eith LED strip from the wall’s intersection with floor.
Auxiliary buildings: the bicycle shed is a steel-glass structure (10×2,5; 25m2), with solar panels on southern roof slope; sanitary building is a cubic formsided with larch panels and painted white from the inside.
The cover of the parking is to be compacted grey siftings.
CONSTRUCTION
The main construction materials are wood, concrete and selective glass.
The main element of the construction – the dimpled roof, – is made of reinforced concrete – it is a very durable structure which does not require bulky bearings. It is supported by a ring of masonry walls and narrow steel columns. The dimple is landscaped with specimen of local herbaceous plants.
ECOLOGY
The main compositional element (the dimpled roof) is also the main ecological advantage since it’s enhanced thermal mass provides passive heating in winter and passive cooling in summer, removes thermal heat island effect since plants do not reflect as much sunlight as solid coatings, it’s plants clean rainwater and the form of the roof helpsto collect water easily in an underground reservoir for kitchen maintenance and landscape element watering when needed. It provides base for natural flora and shelter for pollinating insects and other natural fauna.
The second very important ecologic aspect of the project is the choice of paving – more precisely, it’s absence. About 60% of the site is covered with grass, shrubs, trees and other plants. All this landscaping provides the same merits as mentioned before: collection of rainwater and avoidance of urban heat island effect, better microclymate and shelter for minor animals.
Another advantage of this project is the orientation of the building – the main amount of glass planes is placed towards the west – therefore it reduces the amount of insolation through southern side during summer and it reduces heat loss through northern windowsduring winter.
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Idea Mantas Maziliauskas
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Creative group:
Mantas Maziliauskas
Povilas Šorys
Gitana Stankienė
Akvilė Norvilaitė
Firm reprezentation “Klaipėdos komprojektas”