Multifunctional building in the Sedlitz Bay

Planning competition: 1st prize

The Sedlitz Bay is part of the Sedlitz Lake in the heart of the Lusatian Lakeland. The rear part of the building forms a protected, more private area. The front part of the building is clearly oriented towards the bathing beach and the public water hiking rest area (port) and is thus open to visitors. The development on the land side takes place via both Planstrasse E and Planstrasse D. On the water side, the multifunctional building is very well accessible via the planned footbridge.

The basic idea of ​​the design is to include the two important parameters - the new use and the exceptional environment.

The location of the property is in a former opencast mining area, the landscape of which has been given its own unique and special topography due to the years of lignite mining and where a unique lake landscape is now created by flooding. It is used by water hikers, sailors, bathers, cyclists and tourists as well as by the residents of Sedlitz.

The aim is to take up the new use of the landscape by water sports and tourism and to transform it as a clear feature into an architectural design. With a clear and distinctive architectural language, the building should make the identity of the place tangible and act as a landmark.

The basis for the design is a boat, a canoe, which is still under construction and is intended to represent the progress and modeling of the newly emerging Lusatian Lakeland. The building is modeled on a canoe. The supporting structure forms a rib structure that supports the building envelope. The ribs have a distance of 3 m and an outer dimension of approx. 14 m. The floor plan structure is subdivided between the ribs.

The canoe is in the upside-down position so that its planking (analogous to the building shell) can be applied. Partial areas remain open and leave the construction visible. They create light openings and covered areas in which there is a smooth transition from inside to outside. Protected outdoor areas and sun terraces are also created. A multi-purpose room is planned in the rear of the building, a protected and private location, and can be used by associations. It is possible to create a common outdoor area for events here.

The front area is clearly oriented towards the water and, with its inviting cubature, is intended to guide visitors into the building. The outdoor area offers shady areas and sun spots. The large lounges are connected to each other via the core of the building. The toilets are both accessible via an internal corridor and accessible from the outside. Additional showers are planned here that can be used by water hikers. Storage, workshop, coin operated washing and drying machine room, house connection room and the pantry kitchen belonging to the break room are planned as further functional rooms. In the core of the building there is also an open foyer, which opens the building to the outside and forms a covered open space. This area can be used multifunctionally and can be added to the break room to enable flexible use. The use of renewable energies as well as the use of sustainable building materials is part of the design. The renaturation of the region and the sustainable use of the landscape should be reflected in the architecture.