* Ph.D. Arch. Dominika Kuśnierz-Krupa, Institute of History of Architecture and MonumentPreservation,FacultyofArchitecture,CracowUniversityofTechnology.

TECHNICAL TRANSACTIONSARCHITECTURE

7-A/2014

CZASOPISMO TECHNICZNEARCHITEKTURA

DOMINIKAKUŚNIERZ-KRUPA*

NEWBUILDINGTECHNOLOGIESINTHECONTEXT OFREVALORIZATIONOFAHISTORICBUILDING(ONTHEEXAMPLEOFCONVERSIONOFANOLDDORMITORYINTO

ANADMINISTRATIVEOFFICE)

NOWETECHNOLOGIEBUDOWLANEWKONTEKŚCIEREWALORYZACJI OBIEKTU ZABYTKOWEGO

(NAPRZYKŁADZIEADAPTACJIBUDYNKUDAWNEJBURSYNAPOTRZEBYFUNKCJIBIUROWO-ADMINISTRACYJNEJ)

A b s t r a c t

Historicbuildingadaptationconnectedwithchangingitsuseoftenmakesarchitectsapplymodernbuildingtechnologies,includinglatestmaterialsandfurnishing.Itshouldbeemphasizedthatnowadaysadaptationofahistoricbuildingandintroducinganewfunctioninto it, isoftentheonlywaytosaveit.Thisnewfunctionfrequentlyrequiresahighleveloffinishingandfurnishingthebuildinginsuchamannerthatitwouldfulfillcurrentregulations.SuchaninvestmentistherevalorizationoftheoldhighschooldormitoryinNowyTargwhichisunderconservationprotectionbecauseofitslocation,formandarchitecturaldetailscharacteristicforthatpartofPoland.

Keywords: historic building adaptation, new function in historic building, revalorization

S t r e s z c z e n i e

Adaptacjaobiektówzabytkowychzwiązanazezmianąsposobuichużytkowaniaczęstowymuszanapro-jektanciezastosowaniawspółczesnychtechnologiibudowanychwtymnowoczesnychmateriałów,atakżeelementówwyposażeniaobiektu.Należyprzytympodkreślić,iżwobecnychczasachadaptacjaobiektuzabytkowegoiwprowadzeniedońnowejfunkcjijestczęstojednymsposobemnajegouratowanie.Funkcjatapociągazasobąokreślony,niejednokrotniebardzowysokipoziomwykończeniabudynkuorazwyposa-żeniagowtakisposób,abyspełniałwymogiobowiązującychprzepisów.PrzykłademtakiejinwestycjijestrewaloryzacjabudynkudawnejbursyszkolnictwaponadgimnazjalnegowNowymTargu,będącegozracjipołożenia oraz charakterystycznej dla tej części Polski formy i detalu architektonicznego pod ochronąkonserwatorską.

Słowa kluczowe: adaptacja obiektu zabytkowego, nowa funkcja w obiekcie zabytkowym, rewaloryzacja

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1. Introduction

Currently, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of historic objectsrequiringrevalorization,whosetechnicalconditionneedsalmostimmediateconservationintervention. Such intervention necessitates investing considerable financial outlays,potentiallyexceedingthecostoferectinganewobjectwithahigherstandardoffinishingandbettertechnicalparameters.Sometimeshowever,onecannotmakeasimplecomparisonbetweenthehistoricandthenewobject,sincetheformerpossessesprimarilynon-materialvaluessuchasitshistory,traditionandcustoms,concealedwithinitsoldwalls.Besidesthosevalues,therearealsoseveralotherargumentsjustifyingprotectionandconservationofsuchabuilding [1].Theycertainlyare:historic,oftenpracticallyuniquearchitecturaldetailusedwithinaspecificregioninthepast,thebuilding’slocationonacharacteristicsiteinagivencityoritsshapedesignedinaccordancewithspecificrules.Becauseofthehighcostsofmodernizationofhistoricobjects,occasionallytheonlywayto“encourage”an investor to carryout sucha renovation is to convert theobject and introduceanewfunction into it. Such a compromise between the investor, the owner of the historicbuildingandtheauthoritiesresponsibleforitsconservationprotectionhasbeenacceptedallovertheworld.Forinstance,inGermanyandtheNetherlands,itisallowedtoconvertunusedsacredobjects,thussavingthemfromfallingintodisrepair [2].InPortugal,unusedstorehouses, post-industrial objects [3], tenement houses [4] and evenwhole quarters incitycentresabandonedbytheirresidentsbecausee.g.toohighcostofrenovation,arebeingrevalorized.Frequently,theonlywaytorescuesuchobjectsistoobtainpermissionfromtheconservationauthorities to introduceanewfunction into thebuilding,whichwouldensureapotentialincomeforthenewowners [5].Inmostcases,thosefunctionsrequireaveryhighstandardofbuildingfinishapplyingmodernbuildingtechnologiesincludingthenewestmaterialsandelementsoffurnishing.Suchabuilding,alsohastomeetallthecurrentregulations.

2. The old dormitory building in Nowy Targ. History and description of its condition before project intervention

ThebuildingoftheolddormitoryinNowyTargisanexampleofaninvestmentwhichwas revalorized and its regional forms and details were highlighted again, owing to itsadaptation and introduction of a new function into the building.The object is located inthe city centre on the main street:Aleja Tysiąclecia. Because of its location within theconservationprotectionzone,justoutsidethecitycentreontheborderofthedowntownzone,theobjectisunderprotectionofthedirectorofthebranchofficeinNowyTarg,LesserPolandVoivodeshipMonumentProtectionOffice(Ill.1).Themasonrybuildingwaserectedinthemid-20thcentury,withabasementand4storeys(+1subterraneanstorey).itwasdesignedinthetraditionalstyleofregionalarchitecturewithdistinctelementsofZakopanestyle [6]. ThattrendcommonlyoccursinthearchitectureofthePodhaleregionandtheNowyTargValley,andcreatesthecharacteristicfeaturesoftheculturallandscapeinthatregion.Sincethemomentof itserection, thebuildinghasservedasaschooldormitoryforhighschoolstudentsfromoutsideNowyTarg.Inrecentyears,itstechnicalconditiondeteriorated(Ill.2)

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andtheold-fashionedinfrastructurecouldnolongerensureappropriateaccommodationorstudyingconditionsforyoungpeople.Therefore,theobjectowner,thelocaladministrationauthorities,decidedtorelocatethedormitorytoanotherbuilding.Thesituationcausedtheobject,whichforseveraldecadeshadbeenanimportantelementoftheculturallandscapeofthecity,toloseitsfunctionsandusers.Oneshouldaddhowever,thatthebuildinghasbeenasymbolicgatewayintothecityfromtheeast.

Ill.1.OlddormitoryinNowyTargontheorthophotomap,[in:]Geoportal

Ill.2.ViewofthedormitorybuildinginNowyTargfromthesouth(fromAl.Tysiąclecia)beforeprojectintervention,November2008

(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

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3. Object revalorization and adaptation

The object owner, the local administration authorities, decided to modernize the un-usedbuilding,sothatinfutureitcanservenewoffice–administrativefunctions,asaseatof theCountyStarost.The investor set severalverydetailed requirements that theobjectwas tomeetafter itsadaptationhadbeencompleted.Thebuildingwas to fulfilla formalfunction,whileatthesametimethecostsofitsrealizationandfurtherexploitationhadtoberationalized.Itwasassumedthattheobjectrevalorizationwouldbecarriedoutintwostages.Inthefirststage,workconnectedwiththeelevationmodernizationwascompletedandinthesecond,workinsidethebuildingwascarriedout.

3.1.Stageoneofinvestment

The first stage of work connected with adapting the building to serve the office –administrativefunctionwascarriedoutfromAugusttillDecember2012.Then,onthebasisofprojectdocumentation1preparedbyZERIBADesigningGroup,theobjectelevationwasmodernizedandtheroofcoveringwasreplaced.Thecolourschemeofthefacadewaskeptinshadesofgrey.ItwasinsulatedbyapplyingtheTermoOrganikasystem:‘Termoniumplusfasada’,usingsilver-greypanels1000mmlong,500mmwideand15cmthick;producedonthebasisofinnovativerawmaterialrefinedwithagraphitecomposition,whichaddedtogranulesduringthepolystyreneproductionprocess,itimprovestheinsulatingpropertiesofpanels,thankstowhichbetterresultsofthermalinsulationcanbeachieved.Theroofwascoveredwithroofingshingle-likesheetsandpaintedgranulatedstoneimitatingtraditionalshingles,whichcoveredthebuildingroofinthepast.Dormersandupperpartsofgablewallswerelinedwithwoodensiding,whichwaspaintedandimpregnatedwithwater-solublegreypaint,tobeappliedoutside.Windowopeningsofthe1stfloorwerehighlightedwithlight-grey20cmwidebands.Incontrast,thewindowopeningsintheatticwerehighlightedwithblackbands.Thestonefacingonthegroundfloor,characteristicforthePodhaleregion,wascleanedandfilled in.Themainentrance fromAl.Tysiącleciawasemphasisedbyaglassroofing spot-fixed to the elevation,which does not disrupt the architectonic compositionofthesouthfacadeofthebuilding.Theentranceonthenorthsidewasemphasizedwithanopenworkwooden construction (painted the same shadeof grey as thedormers and roofgables)alludingtothearchitectureoftheregion.

1 GrupaProjektowaZERIBA(drinż.arch.DominikaKuśnierz-Krupa,drinż.arch.MichałKrupa,drinż.arch.ŁukaszWesołowski),Designdocumentationentitled:Transformation,modernizationandalteringthefunctionoftheschoolboardinghousetoservetheadministrative-officepurposesofthecountyadministration,Kraków2012, [in:]ArchiwumWydz.AdministracjiBud.-Arch.,StarostwaPowiatowegowNowymTargu,s.v.

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Ill.3.VisualizationoftherevalorizationprojectforthedormitoryinNowyTarg.Viewfromthesouth-east,[in:]

ArchiveofZERIBADG

Ill.4.VisualizationoftherevalorizationprojectforthedormitoryinNowyTarg.Viewfromthenorth-east,[in:]

ArchiveofZERIBADG

Ill.5.Dormitorybuildingfromthesouth(fromAl.Tysiąclecia)afterrevalorization,2014

(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

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3.2. Stagetwoofinvestment

Stage two of the work connected with adapting the building to fulfill the office –administrativefunctioncommencedinMaythisyear.TheworkhasbeencarriedoutbasedontheabovementioneddocumentationpreparedbytheZERIBADesigningGroup.Accordingtotheproject,aftertheinvestmenthasbeenrealized,thebuildingwillhaveatotalcapacityof12816.5m3andtheutilityspaceof4273.2m2.Thefunctionallayoutoftheobjectwillprovidethebestaccessibilityforprospectiveclients,whileatthesametimeoptimallyusingtheexistingspacetoserveofficeneeds.Inaccordancewiththefunctionalprogramme,thebasementwasdesignedtohouse:archiverooms,storagerooms,aboilerroom,maintenancerooms, utility rooms and server rooms.The groundfloor encompasses: information deskandcorrespondenceregister,theCountyCouncilconferenceroom,cateringzoneandofficerooms. On upper storeys there are office and conference rooms allocated to particulardepartments.

Detailedguidelinesfromtheinvestorandthedesigners’visiondeterminedtheneedtousethelatesttechnologiesasfarasbuildingmaterialsandsystemelements(plumbingandwiring)areconcerned.Ontheotherhand,thelevelofarchitectureisraisedbyappropriatelyapplied natural materials, such as stone and timber, which allude to the architecture ofPodhale.Inthearchitectonicprojectoftheinteriors,themotifoforiginalstonefacingfromthegroundflooroutsidewallswasrepeatede.g.,ingeneralcommunicationroutes.Thefactthatthecorridorswererelativelynarrow,itnotonlynegativelyinfluencestheirfunctionality,butalsoposedaproblem in the safety regulationsofevacuation routes.Using traditionalstone tileswouldhavenarrowedthemadditionallybyat leasta fewcentimeters(oneachside)andinsomeplaceswouldhaverequiredprovidinganadditionalsubstructure.Henceitwasdecidedthatanothermaterialwouldbeused,whichhasrecentlybeenintroducedtoourmarket,althoughe.g.,inGermanyithasbeenalreadyusedforseveralyears.Stoneveneerisproducedintypicalformatsheetsof120×60cmorbiggerandupto3mmthick.Fiberglassmatsarebound to thesurfaceofastoneblock(slate)usingpolyester resins.Thebindingforceissogreatthatwhentornoff,alayerofnaturalstoneremainsstucktothematsurface.Eachsheethasauniqueappearance,thankstowhichsurfaceslinedwithveneerlooknatural.Besidestheiraestheticvalue,thesheetsareflexible(canbelaidonarchedcurves,especiallyafterheating),lightandeasytoassemble.Becauseoftheirthickness,thesheetsareeasytoprocessandafterimpregnationtheyarealso100%waterproof.

Inselectedroomsofparticularlyformalcharacter(suchastheCountyCouncilconferenceroomortheStarost’sofficewiththemeetingroom)itwasdecidedtofinishthewallswithwoodenpanels.Highaestheticrequirements,aswellasthosetechnicallyconnectedwithfirehazard(fireresistance)enforcedtheuseofthelatesttechnologies.MaterialsclassifiedasA2-s1,d0(thehighestclassofnon-flammabilityforflammablematerials)wereselected.While selecting concrete products, as a reference point, the designers chose Gustafspanels,whichapartfromtheirhighqualityandtechnicalparametersmatchingtheprojectrequirements, allowed for using identically looking elements in 3 different variations –typifiedbyhigherfireresistanceand“acoustic”(perforatedpanelswithvariousdegreeofsoundabsorption).

Finishingmaterials,usedintheprojectonalargerscalebecauseoftheirpropertiesofincreasing user’s comfort, were suspended ceilings and fitted flooring. Naturally, system

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suspended ceilings are nothing new. Nevertheless in this case, the investor accepted thedesigners’argumentsthatinabuildingofsuchfunctionandarchitecture,noisewillbeanissuesignificantlyinfluencingthequalityofwork.Thatiswhyperforatedsoundproofceilingshavebeenfittedinalmostallroomsmeantforpeopleandalongthemaincommunicationroutes.Forsimilarreasonse.g.,fittedtuftedcarpetswereselected,whichapartfrommufflingsounds,arevery resistant tomechanicaldamagecausedbyofficeequipmentormoisture.Moreover,theydisperseelectrostaticchargesgeneratedbyelectronicappliances.

Apartfrombuildingmaterials,animportantissuearetheproposedsolutionsconcerningsystem installationsand furnishingelements.Someof thosewill haveadirect impactonsavingenergyorwateretc.Theprojectinvolvesfittingsolarpanelsonthesouthslopeoftheroof,whichwillhelptoprovidehotutilitywaterandcentralheating.Itwasdecidedthatflatpanelswillbeused,sincetheirefficiencyconsiderablyexceedsthatofthemostfrequentlyappliedvacuumpanels.Non-contact,photocell-controlledtapsfixedonallthewashbasinsshouldhelptolimittheuseofrunningwaterandtherefore,theamountofproducedsewage.Itisestimated,thatitwillallowsavingapproximately30–40%incomparisontotraditionalinstallations.

Ill.6.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–hallontheground

floor,2014(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

Ill.7.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–CountyCouncil

meetingroom,2014, (photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

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Ill.8.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–customerservicedesk,2014

(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

Ill.9.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–hallonthe1stfloor,2014

(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

Ill.10.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–CountyAdministrationBoard

meetingroom,2014 (photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

Ill.11.Viewoftheobjectinterioraftermodernization–toiletsonthegroundfloor,

2014(photo:D.Kuśnierz-Krupa)

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4. Conclusions

Summing up the above considerations, it should be observed that although designingnewbuildingscreates an opportunitytoapplynewtechnologies,paradoxicallyconversionsof existing buildings, particularly those of historic value, frequently force architects tousesuchsolutions.Itresultsfromdiscrepanciesbetweencurrentregulations,requirementswhichparticularfunctionshavetomeetnowadaysandstandardsbindingatthetimewhenthebuildingwaserected.Suitablyselectedandappliedtechnologies,includingthelatestfinishingmaterials,offerdesignersawiderrangeofpossibilitiestohighlightthemostimportantandvaluableelementsofahistoricobjectbearingevidencetoitseventfulpastandrank.

R e f e r e n c e s

[1]Jasieńko J.,KuśnierzK.,RoubaB.J.,Konserwacja zabytków jako proces interdyscy-plinarny – badania, nauka, technika, praktyka,[in:]KongresKonserwatorówPolskich,Publ.DWE,Warszawa2005.

[2] Kuśnierz-KrupaD.,KrupaM.,Nowe życie średniowiecznych kościołów z Maastricht, „Wiadomości Konserwatorskie” 24/2008, Publ. ZG SKZ,Warszawa–Wrocław 2008,103-106.

[3] Kuśnierz-KrupaD.,Portugalska szkoła konserwacji” – Muzeum Transportu i Komunik-acji Eduarda Souto Moury w Porto,„WiadomościKonserwatorskie”32/2012,Publ.ZGSKZ,Warszawa–Wrocław2012,31-38.

[4] Kuśnierz-KrupaD.,Konserwatorski profesjonalizm w Lizbonie,[in:]Karta Krakowska 2000 – 10 lat później,A.Kadłuczka(Edit.),MonografiaPK,SeriaArchitekturanr400,Kraków2011,175-181.

[5] Kuśnierz-KrupaD.,„Portugalska szkoła konserwacji” – kwartał das Cardosas w cen-trum Porto, „Wiadomości Konserwatorskie” 33/2013, Publ. ZG SKZ, Warszawa– –Wrocław2013,39-46.

[6] JabłońskaT.,Styl zakopiański Stanisława Witkiewicza,Publ.Bosz,2008.[7] Grupa Projektowa ZERIBA (dr inż. arch. Dominika Kuśnierz-Krupa, dr inż. arch.

Michał Krupa, dr inż. arch. Łukasz Wesołowski), Design documentation entitled:Transformation,modernizationandalteringthefunctionoftheschoolboardinghousetoservetheadministrative-officepurposesofthecountyadministration,Kraków2012,[in:]ArchiwumWydz.AdministracjiBud.-Arch.,StarostwaPowiatowegowNowymTargu,s.v.