Academy of Nature in Hajnówka
The first stage of the investment is ahead of us. The accommodation part of the facility will be built by the end of next year
The creation of the Academy of Nature is one of the largest projects under the “Hajnówka ReNewal – Green Transformation” project. To remind, it is to be a place attracting tourists, offering nature education, with accommodation and facilities for organizing workshops and demonstrations. Here will also be the headquarters of the Hajnówka Local Product Center, where those willing to visit will find all that is best in Hajnówka. The Academy of Natur will be located on Parkowa Street. As part of the said project, architectural documentation for the entire facility will be created, as well as the first stage of the investment.
In the first stage, we want to build a building of the Academy of Nature with the function of collective residence (stage 1) along with land development. The building will serve as a public utility (educational and workshop facility with a collective residence function). There will be 30 double rooms and one single room adapted for people with disabilities. In addition, part of the facility will include an exhibition space dedicated to local products (next to the reception), as well as a workshop room. Its usable area is 1,026.01 m². The building will be located in the north-eastern part of the plot, in the place of the currently unused part of the building. The unfinished building will be demolished. The architectural and construction design for the first stage is already ready, and the city has submitted an application for a building permit.
Demolition of the unused part is the most rational solution, including financially, which will enable the investment to be made within the funds available. Renovation would be unprofitable. Instead, it is much cheaper to build a full-fledged building.
The problem with the currently existing part of the building is the requirements imposed on public buildings by occupational safety and fire safety regulations. Both the result of the site visit and the technical expertise show clear discrepancies of the existing building in relation to the current regulations. These relate:
- the unregulated height of the floors, excluding in part the functions assumed in the building
- lack of adequate fire resistance of the structure
- inadequate load-bearing capacity of ceilings for payloads
- numerous architectural barriers forcing reconstruction of essential parts of the building.
The new building will simultaneously meet the functional requirements of the Nature Academy, as well as all safety requirements. At the moment we are waiting for a building permit. In January, meanwhile, the city will announce a tender for a contractor for the first stage of the project. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. In the first quarter of next year, in turn, the architectural documentation for the entire facility (stage II) will be ready.
The concept is to divide the facility into two parts: the Nature Academy Building with communal housing function ( Stage I) and the main building of the Nature Academy (Stage II). The main entrance is planned from Park Street. In turn, the area in front of the building will be designed to be an extension of the park opposite.
To the left of the main entrance is a recreation zone and green spaces to encourage outdoor recreation. Within the educational zone, it is planned to introduce educational and sensory paths, a flower meadow and a zone of tranquility, etc. The architects proposed an artistic division of the area referring to the honeycomb motif.
The architectural concept shows the possibility of peaceful coexistence between the human world and the natural world of nature. These two worlds can not only coexist, but also complement each other.
A symbol of the natural environment is the body of the Nature Academy. Simple, modest form, without ornaments and details, the facade made of wood with a lot of glazing reflecting the surrounding greenery is supposed to give the impression of being submerged in natural surroundings. The light-colored wood used on the facade, which is also natural in color, is meant to symbolize “living” nature.
The interior of the building is also meant to reflect the natural environment. The use of a large amount of glazing gives the impression of the disappearance of the boundary between inside and outside and the smooth blending of the building’s interior space with its natural surroundings, realizing the ideas of biophilic design. Thanks to the use of such procedures, users of the building will be able to feel constant contact with the surrounding nature – an excerpt from the architectural concept by K&L Smart Design.
It is worth mentioning that for the implementation of the first stage of the investment, the city won an additional PLN 2 million from the Government’s Polish Fund.