The pier of the future, Gdynia

Our company, in cooperation with the Roark Studio office, prepared a proposal for the development of Kościuszko Square in Gdynia as a response to the Pirs Przyszłość competition task, the study was awarded a distinction in the competition. Our task was to work on the competition concept, prepare a set of tools and models, and perform analyzes of insolation, wind impact and Spaxe Syntax.

The design team set itself the task of creating a model multi-functional urban space that would show how to address contemporary problems in line with historical heritage.

The competition design includes solutions that, through holistic thinking about the needs of residents, also apply to the functioning of entire cities.

The city’s impact on the environment

As befits the design of a model urban space, the design team planned a number of solutions that should become the norm in the cities of the future. It is planned to limit vehicle traffic as much as possible and introduce solutions facilitating and promoting pedestrian and bicycle traffic. Low greenery was introduced with rain gardens and various tall greenery. The proposed new facilities should be zero-energy and with a minimum carbon footprint, equipped with green roofs with the possibility of retention and use of rainwater.

 

Technological avant-garde

In order to design an urban space adapted to the challenges of the present day, it is necessary to use modern IT tools such as simulations and computer analyzes. During the preparation of this competition work, tunnel analyzes were performed regarding wind protection solutions, simulations of solar energy gains, shading and pedestrian traffic (space syntax).
 
An additional layer of information for residents and city authorities could be a network of sensors regarding temperature, wind speed, humidity, air quality, rainfall, the number of people moving in the square and other important parameters. Thanks to this, the urban space undergoing constant changes could be flexible so that it was possible to react and use modern tools for collecting, analyzing and using city data.

Wind simulations

The form of the lagoon has a direct impact on the improvement of wind comfort for its users. The selected geometry allows you to create comfortable conditions for people using the pools, reducing the wind speed three times. At the same time, it allows to eliminate the danger of space users related to a sharp increase in wind speed at the edge of the pier.
 
The project also decided to locally use shafts 1m high along the edge of the pier. The use of an element inclined towards the windward side allows to reduce the average wind speed to 0 m / s over a 5m section, and to reduce the wind speed by 70% at a distance of 40m. A simple solution increases the safety of elderly people, children and cyclists who are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of high wind speeds.

Simulations of the impact of the sun

In order to create a space that allows for lowering the perceived temperature, it was decided to use a geometry thanks to which, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the space is not exposed to direct sunlight, but throughout the day, the same spaces gain access to daylight. The area can be used by both users and pets to protect themselves from intense sunlight.