Joanna Jablonska

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.

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.

Spatial transformations of architect's workplace due to development of computer aided design

Architects, among other professional groups, are especially involved in the technical development of their occupation at three different levels: designed objects, ways of performing investment processes and methods of current communication. The usage of stationary and mobile computers, graphical tablets, smart phones and other multimedia equipment are currently influencing not only the way of work, but the space of workplaces as well. This paper is aimed at researching this transformation and development. A comparison between two approaches towards a design process will be made, i.e. classical --- based on a drawing board and modern --- with implementation of Computer Aided Design, graphical stations, virtual modeling and multimedia presentations. There will be a discussion on proper measurements and parameters of the workplace in relation to human needs and limitations tested in case studies and in literature examples. Based on conclusions, the guidelines concerning designers work with the modern electronic equipment will be formulated.

Design of modern hotels: humanization of the residential environment

After the hotel building boom before Euro 2012, the Polish tourist branch is currently experiencing a period of stabilization. Current investments are prepared with more consideration as regards the ways of gaining and attracting new customers to the proposed services. Small and very economical buildings like hostels and motels that are erected nowadays are attracting a young part of the society, while elegant and more expensive buildings gain customers from constantly aging people. Attempts to provide better and well-adjusted functions evolve along the demand to meet different needs of people with various disabilities. Humanization and individualization of service for the benefit of various customers should be based on appropriate ergonomic solutions and novel technologies. Analyses will be carried out on recommendations for hotels designed for people with disabilities, different medical conditions and representative case studies of German examples.