In the municipality of Gołcza, located in the Małopolska region, a former quarry has been transformed into a modern and functional recreational and educational space. Instead of a derelict, post-industrial landscape, a unique attraction was created, which attracts with its unique character. The studio ARP Manecki Architekci sp. z o.o. is responsible for the reclamation project of the site, which used the natural qualities of the site to create a multifunctional facility.
The quarry, located away from buildings and surrounded by green areas, has become a site with high landscape potential after the end of raw material extraction in 2020. The distinctive walls in shades of white, beige and rust became the ideal backdrop for the modern architecture. The project included a complex of buildings, integrated into the rocky slopes, which gave the site an unusual, harmonious character.
photo: Tomasz Prokop
The centrepiece of the project is a building consisting of four volumes that has been skilfully set into the rock. The building serves a variety of functions: a restaurant, a butterfly house with a laboratory, and an auditorium that can be used as a cinema or lecture theatre. An important element of the project was the development of a system to prevent rock fragments from falling off, which was a challenge due to the disruption to the stability of the site as a result of years of mining.
The buildings have been designed in such a way that on one side they lean against the quarry wall and on the other – they are overhanging the edge of the quarry, which gives the whole complex a modern, dynamic character. The facades of the buildings are made of weathering steel, which surface rusts to create a patina that corresponds perfectly with the natural colours of the rocks.
An additional attraction is a natural body of water that has been transformed into a lake with fountains. A certified leisure pool has also been created, which meets all safety standards and is accessible to local residents. The area around the quarry has been carefully designed, which emphasises the unique atmosphere of this unusual place.
The innovative development of the extinguished quarry has been enthusiastically welcomed by the local community. The butterfly house, which is part of the complex, has already attracted more than 2,000 visitors. Lesław Blacha, the mayor of Gołcza municipality, expresses satisfaction with the effects of the revitalisation and plans to enter the facility in the National Open Competition Modernisation of the Year and Construction of the 21st century.
Design: ARP Manecki Architekci sp. z o.o.
Design team:
General designer: dr inż. arch. Mateussz Manecki
Designer: M.Sc. arch. Daniel Targosz
Designer: Magdalena Ślebioda, M.Sc
Design: Dr.-Ing. arch. Jarosław Zdeb
Installations: Sławomir Gubała, M.Sc
Electrical: Stanisław Mazur, M.Sc
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Metamorphosis | Korten | Interesting facts | whiteMAD on Instagram