Elzbieta Trocka-Leszczynska

Ergonomic Solutions in Capsule Hotels

World hotel branch have lately (across XXI century) experienced a phenomena of popping-up capsule hotels in an exact city centres, offering travellers accommodation with economical, yet highly restricted living conditions. Only a bed and an access to a shower are offered, and in many cases, capsule use time is limited to maximum 9-hours. Moreover, in studied buildings there is no natural light accessibility, with total lack of windows to the exterior, even on corridors or halls. Users have no privacy guaranteed and acoustical conditions are highly peculiar. This article will be focusing on a question, whether spending an overnight in a capsule is comfortable and why this phenomena nowadays occurred with such strength? During case studies on examples like: Youth Hostel in Munich (Germany), Luxury Capsule Hotel in Tokyo (Japan), The One Hostel in Wroclaw (Poland), the ergonomic of layouts and capsules was studied. Also psychological conditions of such solutions were an important issue for the Authors.

Changes in the Contemporary Public Space: Libraries

Contemporary library is no longer silent study hall filled with books and limited, small work-spaces, complemented by huge, closed storage rooms for almost inaccessible books. It is more of a welcoming public space, dedicated to culture and opened for all users. Designers create interesting forms, bringing people together and at the same time symbolizing knowledge and wisdom. The workspaces are ergonomic and provide people with sufficient space and friendly environment, allowing spending a whole day in the interior. This article was devoted to present findings on changes that have occurred in the contemporary public space of libraries, aiming at architecture humanization. The studies were carried out on examples, i.e.: “Harold Washington Library Center” in Chicago (USA), TU Delft Library (Nederland), Library of Faculty of Architecture of TU Delft (Nederland), Wroclaw Municipal Library “Grafit” (Poland), Library of Faculty of Architecture WrUST (Poland), “Muntpunt” library and information centre Brussels (Belgium), etc.

Structure vs. Ergonomics in Contemporary Hotel Design

The structural system is not only a carrier of architectural form, but also an important factor in the process of formulating the spatial-functional plan of facilities. Its impact goes far beyond the basic function of ensuring safety of the building. Proper coordination of architectural solutions and structural system allows zone optimization, influences layout arrangement and interiors span and therefore has a strong impact on ergonomics of room solution. Moreover, it allows combining (correct mutual positioning) of the various zones in the building, deployment of special and additional functions (e.g. swimming pools, conference centers, parking lots, etc.). Such interaction is also crucial for matching the hotel facilities to the surrounding environment. Presented article is a summary of research on architecture to structure relation, in pursuit of optimal solutions for maximizing safety and comfort of use in contemporary hotels. The needs of people with impaired physical of psychical conditions were also taken into account.

Impact of New Construction Technologies on Sustainable Hotel Design

One of the important trends in contemporary design of hotels is to obtain environmental compatibility. This is manifested on the one hand in the search for the special locations of these facilities, and on the other hand – in giving them a very sophisticated, organic form. The specific location means scenically attractive site, surrounded by spectacular natural forms. These can be, for example hardly accessible mountain slopes, old abandoned quarries, desert areas, or even the sea bottom surrounded by coral reef. Until relatively recently, both the construction process and operation of hotels in such locations was extremely difficult or even impossible for technical reasons. Also, nature conservation considerations constituted a serious obstacle, because often these areas are protected by law. Technological development enables to overcome these barriers, and limitation for designers is often only imagination. This is manifested in the second-mentioned aspect of striving for environmental compatibility – organic shaping the architectural forms. During several years of development of so called free-forms in architecture, often called “the Bilbao effect”, have been developed appropriate design tools, which in combination with modern technologies open up completely new possibilities for architects. This article is an attempt to summarize the most important issues in this respect, illustrated with most characteristic examples.

Shift of the Function of “Temple of the Travelling” from Railway Stations to Airports

Human culture, lifestyle and economy are strictly connected to traveling and shipping goods at long distances. Means of transport have influenced societies and architecture through history, however the strongest impact was related to industrial revolution of XIX century and invention of rail. Possibility and commonness of covering long distances in a short time gave impact of developing whole cities and regions, as well as creation of specific architecture of transportation. Serving as not only a shelter and distribution hub for travelers, but allowing fulfilling certain journey habits and specific customs, train stations became kind of “Temples of Traveling”. Nowadays traveling function has shifted towards new means of transport—airplanes and their sanctuaries—airports. New religion become shopping and usage of all commercial services, offered in ever-expanding terminals. Also neglected and forgotten to some point railway stations are nowadays being subject of transformation and upgrading. This article was devoted to presentation of conclusion from research on European “Temples of Travelling” with a special focus on: architecture and structure significance, users, their needs, ergonomic aspect and surprising shifts of functions. It seems that architecture of transportation is now balancing between commercial and cultural function, therefore is especially interesting scientific study object.

Interior Architecture and Humane Design

There is a distinct correlation between the interior design architecture and ergonomic quality of space in hotel rooms. However, is an increase in standard paired with human comfort and safety? Does a higher standard of a hotel unit type, i.e.: Superior, Comfort or Suite, provide optimal spatial solutions? The article presents a continuation of a study on the following elements: design solutions, internal finishing, furnishing and appliances; investigating their influence on the well-being and safety of people with or without any type of disability. Research based on literature and numerous case studies was focused mainly on the needs of independent travelers, who wish to live in a hotel space without a need to rely on help from a third party. The scope of study includes hotel bedrooms, sitting rooms and bathrooms.

Typology and Ergonomics of Rooms in Contemporary Hotel

Depending on the hotel’s standard, a variety of room types can be distinguished: Single, Twin, Double, Apartments (Polish “Apartament”), suites: junior, business, senator, etc. What is more, these are often found in a variety of standards, i.e. Standard, Superior, Luxury, Deluxe, Queen, King, Royal or Executive, just to name a few. With such a range of possibilities, and even more diversification based on cultural and architectural customs in a particular country, it seems that a proper typology of hotel services should be based rather on the grounds of ergonomics and room comfort than marketing labels. This article presents a study aiming at properly formulating tools for standardization of contemporary hotel accommodation. Scope of the study includes a range of European examples.

Long-term transformations of the Karkonosze towns - on the example of Karpacz

Abstract Karkonosze Mountains localities have a long and rich history. Earlier the building development was unique atmosphere and character. We are most interested in contemporary design at the present time. Intensive construction activity is conducted hastily and ill-conceived in the last two decades. The results of this action are visible both in the perception of space and the shaping of technical infrastructure. This article asserts the validity and utility of a return to the application of the principles of the “The Charter of Sudetes” in designing the landscape by decision-makers and designers. In addition, we present guidelines for development planners for the evaluation of the potential areas of investment. The paper ends with a presentation of practical methods to improve the aesthetic reception building existing and newly designed.

Kitsch in Architecture – Contemporary Polish Hotels

Kitsch has become embedded in the landscape of Polish cities and villages and is especially well represented in the architecture of hotels. It portrays society’s relentless yearning for the wealth and tradition of extensive old-style mansions combined with economical building materials, restrictions of computer aided design and the desire to pander to mass tastes. In effect, there are produced over-scaled, not ergonomic, cheap accommodation facilities, filled with plastic and gypsum ornaments, which are unfamiliar to local culture. Drawing on a number of case studies this paper investigates the causes of kitsch manifestation and its effect on the surroundings and proposes methods of protecting the urban and rural landscape from devastation.

The Contemporary Rural Landscape in the South-Western Region of Poland (Sudeten Region) – A Search for Spatial Order

Architecture of rural settlements situated in the south-western region of Poland is distinguished by its vernacular character – the so-called “Sudeten architecture”. Characteristic features of this architecture are visible in pre-war buildings of Sudeten villages both in two-story and single-story structures and include pitched gable roofs, a wooden residential section and a brick maintenance section. Another characteristic feature of Sudeten villages, also called “chain villages”, is their homogenous layout, i.e. a detached but uniform arrangement of buildings. On the other hand, buildings which were erected in the southern part of the Lower Silesian province after 1945, which was a new economic and political situation, evolved away from the pre-war Sudeten vernacular architecture. With their randomly chosen architectural forms, flat roofs, concrete constructions, inappropriate colors and excessively dense arrangement, these new buildings introduced spatial chaos into the homogeneous structures of villages. Due to the landscape qualities of this region, it is important to establish precise rules for erecting new buildings in the existing context, and to popularize traditional architecture of the region (e.g. by organizing architectural contests for contemporary Sudeten buildings). Such projects could help residents to better understand the qualities of existing settlements and justify the requirement to follow rules when renovating and modernizing buildings. The purpose of these actions is to create new vernacular architecture for villages, which will both fulfill the requirements and needs of contemporary work and life, and also harmoniously complement the existing cultural and rural landscape.