Poland-based Ultra Architects shared with us “Café at Malta Lake”, a 300 sqm project located in an artificial like in the city of Poznań. See more images and architect’s description after the break.
There is no place in Poland to compare with the Malta Lake in Poznań. It is a one of it’s kind artificial lake, almost in the middle of the city. On it’s regatta lanes take place international rowing competitions. For Poznanians it is a beloved recreation area. On the paths surrounding the lake people walk, jog, skate and ride bikes. Malta is a huge loop, all the time in movement.
Our plot is a narrow strip of land between a group of trees and the water. It’s topography resembles a saddle through which runs one of the paths surrounding the lake. While working on the project, we kept in mind an old polish proverb saying that you shouldn’t replant old trees (the actual meaning of the proverb is: you can’t teach an old dog new tricks). Although the functional programm could fill in the entire plot, we wanted to design the object in a way not to destroy the above-mentioned path, nor the trees.
This is how the building in function of a bridge was created. We call it a „green bridge” because there is grass growing on it’s surface. A path is running on the southern side of the green roof. It’s northern side is a place where you can stop to admire the landscape. The „bridge” spans over a terrace divided into three zones: the southern terrace with a path leading to the café and with a small pond; the middle part underneath the „bridge”, which actually is a main building sheltering a café; the northern terrace with a view of regatta lanes. The technical part of the building (kitchen, toilets) is hidden under the eastern part of the „bridge”. Malta is a place of entertainment and a swimming stage is one of it’s hugest attractions. That is why an additional element of the project is an amphitheather for 250 viewers facing the water.
There are some custom technical solutions in the building. For example, the glass curtains of the café’s facades don’t contain mullions. Considering their height (the building is located in a very windy area) the glazing is designed in a pleated form, so the individual glass slabs block each other. They compose a stabile and resistant structure. The construction of the building is prestressed concrete. The distance between pillars is up to 18 meters.
The entire ventillation an air-conditioning equipment was choosen in regard to minimize the noise emission. It is hidden on the roof in a casing resembling a sail of a submarine. The facades are covered with extruded metal sheets of different sizes and shapes to obtain an impression of spatiality, using an effect of interference, similar to the one created by the butterfly wings. The colour of the facades is the tint of the visual identification of the regatta lanes.
Architects: Ultra Architects Location: Poznań, Poland Principals: Marcin Kosciuch, Tomasz Osieglowski Project Team: Adriana Ronżewska, Agata Ostrowska, Kamila Dembinska, Anna Nowacka – Rapke, Piotr Rapke, Barbara Suszczewicz, stud. Paweł Ejsmont, stud. Adam Turczyn, stud. Zofia Horoszko Project Area: 300 sqm Project Year: 2009
