JFK 2008 – finalist

Introduction:
Student housing is characterized primarily by the temporary nature of its use and limited financial resources for its construction and operation.

Task:
Design housing for one or a small group of students in Liberec. The choice of location and the nature of the proposed intervention (the construction of a separate new building, an extension, renovation, structural modification, etc.) is an essential part of the solution.

Description:
The task was to design housing for student(s) in Liberec. My design therefore focused on students seeking accommodation in the city center with easy access to individual university buildings, services and shops, cultural and sporting facilities.
The place particularly appealed to me with its exceptional dimensions, which deviate from standard norms. Additionally, I found all previous requirements for student life here.
The building is situated with its entrance on 5. května street. Surrounding the building are residential blocks, and newly, on the opposite side, a shopping center with a cultivated area.
The building maximally utilizes the volume created by the gap between two non-adjacent houses. The house turns away from the external environment and concentrates its activities inward and into the rear section.
Upon entering the building, we enter a dark space (hallway/storage) that should serve as a conceptual separator from the city. This area is primarily designated for storing personal items that would otherwise take up space on the upper floors. The following floor is used as one large living area, with a designated space for food preparation in the front part. The third floor features a working area and sanitary facilities, which are separated by frosted glass. The last floor includes space for sleeping and relaxation.

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archiweb: The jury had only a few minutes to evaluate each project, seeing only one sheet and could assess only its final form. However, we are still interested in the journey and development of the project throughout the semester. Can you look back and summarize how the brief was refined, the design was honed, and the consultations prospered?

Aleš Vojkůvka: We worked on this task for about half the semester, as first-year students work on two less extensive assignments. Since there wasn’t much time, it was crucial to quickly find a suitable location in Liberec and start working on the task. I spent a considerable amount of time on the project focusing primarily on internal relationships and other relationships with surrounding buildings. The initial proposals addressed the project more like a classic multi-story house. This classic internal arrangement also reflected on the first critique. After the critique, I began to view the entire proposal from a different perspective, and the final solution was completed at the last moment. In conclusion, I would say that early consultations and critiques definitely helped in creating the project.

archiweb: The accompanying report for most projects is often created on the last night before submission, which corresponds to the stylistic level. The insignificance of written words goes hand in hand with the public secret that “architects don’t read, they just look.” Could you nonetheless describe your winning project in a few brief sentences?

Aleš Vojkůvka: In my case, I believe that a great location played the main role in the entire project. It was quite a coincidence because a person had walked by this place several times, quite unnoticed. Thanks to the excellent location, the subsequent steps were undoubtedly easier. I wanted to accommodate one, at most two students, in such a way that only the necessary minimal space would be utilized. At the same time, I wanted the housing to be concentrated in the city center, where urban life is still present, but with the design allowing students to experience a quiet and pleasant environment upon returning home.