THE VISTULA WATERFRONT IN TORUN

Basic information

Project Title

THE VISTULA WATERFRONT IN TORUN

Full project title

REGENERATION OF THE VISTULA WATERFRONT IN TORUN, POLAND

Category

Regenerated urban and rural spaces

Project Description

The following design of the waterfront in Torun is an out-of-the-box example of urban revitalization. This concept is the opposite of monumental reconstructions of urban spaces, which turn existing locations upside down, with enormous financial and environmental cost. In creating the project, authors used innovative tools, such as Urban Recycling, Big Data Analytics, combined with good design practices such as sustainability, preservation, and inclusion.

Project Region

Warsaw, Poland

EU Programme or fund

No

Description of the project

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The presented project won first place in a national competition organized by the Association of Polish Architects in Torun. The competition aimed to develop a strategy for reconstructing the Vistula Boulevards along the length of 11 km, from the city center, through the Timber Harbor to the viewpoint on the peninsula.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The design of the new Vistula Boulevards draws its identity from the historical tradition of the city of Torun. Due to its location by the Vistula River, Europe-wide trade routes ran through the town. The city is a symbolic combination of the urban life of wealthy Hanseatic merchants with the simple existence of local inland sailors - raftsmen. The architecture of Torun reflects the diversity above. Here you meet rich Hanseatic brick, with noble, patinated wood, transported to Gdansk and from there to other parts of Europe.

DESIGN IDEA

In the context of the integrated development of the entire city, the concept emphasizes the modernization of public spaces, on making urban areas more attractive, including the Winter Harbor, and at the same time developing green networks of paths and streets by closing gaps and creating new connections, creating a COMMUNICATION LOOP, which is the backbone of the redesigned area.

The project visualizes a sustainable area transformation, using the existing land use and available resources. The entire area has been analyzed in terms of possible revitalization and reclamation of facilities and places. Public spaces that require a change of purpose were additionally explored. Each newly added element to the urban puzzle is essential for the functioning of the entire layout.

The vast area of the competition study was divided into smaller urban rooms. Each of them is distinguished by a unique character and range of functions. Such a solution is beneficial for economic reasons, reduces the impact of the proposed new urban layout on the environment, and leaves nature unttouched.

Key objectives for sustainability

The project complies with the principles of sustainable management resources like water, flora, and fauna and counteracting extreme processes and natural disasters related to climate change.

URBAN RECYCLING

The design provides for the transformation of the site in a sustainable manner. The entire area was analyzed in terms of possible revitalization and land reclamation. This solution is beneficial for economic reasons, reduces the impact of the urban design on the environment, and leaves nature untouched.

BIODIVERSITY

The entire area is under NATURA 2000 protection. It is rich in numerous valuable dendrological species. The concept assumes the preservation of all trees and the thickening of existing afforestation with endemic species. Numerous bird species inhabit the area of the Vistula riverbed. The diverse nature of the surrounding greenery is shaped so that, during the breeding season, the birds have at their disposal appropriate natural and synanthropic habitats. The project assumes creating an ORNITHOLOGICAL PARK, which is conducive to the conservation of natural habitats. An Artificial Island on the Vistula River complements it.

WATER RESOURCES

Biodiverse areas show a high water retention potential and enable the regulation of the water cycle. The design has been completed with a small retention system to counteract droughts and floods. The reservoir of TIMBER HARBOR has been surrounded by plant species that support the natural filtration of water, improving its condition and quality.

NATURE EDUCATION

The project supports environmental awareness and promotes a healthy lifestyle. The educational program is carried out in many ways. The Ornithological Park makes it possible to observe the world of nature without disturbing the environment. On the other hand, the FAMILY ALLOTMENT GARDENS promote the idea of urban farming.

AGRICULTURE

The project preserves the existing farmland. It is balanced, non-expansive, and non-invasive.

Key objectives for aesthetics and quality

The urban rooms differ from each other in their unique character.

WINTER HARBOR

It’s focal point is the existing shipyard. It's a place of mutual coexistence of renovation teams and Torun's citizens. Among the renovated ships, service barges are moored, extending the service and cultural offer (a dance barge, floating open-air cinema). Winter Harbor aesthetics relates to Hanseatic history - rusty materials, brick.

CITY PARK

The project predicts an extension of the oldest city park by adding numerous sports fields, unique routes (pump track and velodrome). In the transferred gravel pit area we propose a city beach, which refers to the traditional sand rafts. FAMILY ALLOTMENT GARDENS Diverse parcels support the biodiversity in the local ecosystem. The project adds public squares with Open Garden Houses (Urban Farming, Slow Food pavilion), oriented to the eco-friendly nature of the place.

FARMLANDS

In the preserved arable fields, we suggest cultivating plants with high aesthetic values (heather, sunflowers, poppies). It's a mix of traditional agriculture with the modern need to shape public spaces.

ORNITHOLOGICAL PARK

Thanks to the diversification of path levels, the traveler can learn about the ecosystem that makes up the local landscape, from multiple perspectives. Each of the selected routes provides a different experience, from river sailing, through the grass micro-world, to the trees canopy. TIMBER HARBOR A wooden pier, running parallel to the shore, support diverse activities. It's focused on water sports (sailing, canoeing, wakeboarding). Regeneration of the area is possible by adding fauna that improves the water quality.

VIEWPONT

The entire site ends with a spiral viewpoint tower. The structure is made of wood, consists of gentle ramps allowing access for everyone. It offers a view of both the river and the entire city. Despite its height, the tower does not dominate the landscape - it's level with the height of the forest.

Key objectives for inclusion

From the very beginning, the project assumed the inclusion of all Torun citizens. The project does not exclude any social or professional groups. Thanks to the division of the area into urban rooms, various social groups will find their place, and hopefully, they will mix. At the same time, the assigned character of urban space is continuing its present-day function and atmosphere.

COMMUNICATION

The main communication loop is adapted to people of all ages and with all levels of mobility. The main road is connected with the city by perpendicular paths which ensure good communication between the river and the city.

THE ATTRACTORS

Numerous attractors develop a multifunctional structure and enable the coexistence of several different uses. The planned urban recreation centers are designed to attract users and be an additional incentive to take advantage of such an extensive urban layout as the Vistula Boulevards.

COUNTERACTING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF GENTRIFICATION

One of the main assumptions of the project is to counteract the degradation of urban space while stimulating local development. At the same time, it is essential to counteract the disadvantageous effects of gentrification, especially in the social context. Leaving most of the native functions contributes to the inhibition of gentrification processes.

Citizens and tourists coexist with shipyard workers in the Winter Harbor, urban gardeners keep their plots in the Allotment Gardens, artists present today at community gardens gain promotion and recognition, farmers still hold their fields where they can grow various plants, the city of Torun is also gaining new territory to organize significant outdoor events. At the same time, exclusive spaces that were previously unavailable are inclusive.

Finally, fauna and flora find shelter in the most valuable areas and coexist with urban development.

Innovative character

BIG DATA ANALYSIS

The analysis of pedestrian and bicycle traffic has been made with the use of the latest technologies. The database has been collected in internet service for tracking human exercise and shows the activity of Torun citizens. The user's choice of route is a kind of democratic audit of the existing infrastructure, indicating the desired features or the lack of development. The inhabitants choose paths that often do not match the extensive urban infrastructure, and sometimes they do not lead "along the sidewalk." People always choose the shortest, most convenient, or subjectively "pleasant" routes. The lack of continuity in communication routes is immediately visible

HYBRID STAGING

The design allows innovative phasing implementation. The modernized and newly built elements have been divided according to importance to enable the use of the Vistula riverside as soon as possible. The elements enabling the closing of the Communication Loop and the link with the city have the highest priority Elements of secondary importance for the functioning of the design as a whole are gradually added. The order in which the following fragments are built depends on the city's strategy

URBAN RECYCLING

Over 85% of the area under development is only revitalized. The remaining new elements fill the existing urban patchwork. The project assumes the site's transformation in a sustainable manner, using the existing network of connections and available resources.The area was analyzed in terms of possible revitalization and reclamation of facilities and places. Each newly added piece is essential for the functioning of the whole layout Such a solution is beneficial for economic reasons, reduces the impact of the proposed urban design on the environment. This concept is the opposite of monumental reconstructions of urban spaces, which turn existing locations upside down, with enormous financial cost and a complete transformation of the function and atmosphere of a place

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