Against the background of contemporary multi-family housing, monotonous and often devoid of character, the ‘Rybaki 1’ project realised in Bydgoszcz stands out as an example of a new approach to residential architecture. The building created by the AAYE Architekci studio proves that contemporary housing estates do not have to be merely repetitive arrangements of boring cubes, but can offer residents greater spatial and aesthetic diversity.
The building was constructed in the Lower Vistula Valley, in Fordon, Bydgoszcz. It has four storeys and was designed on a square plan. It consists of two blocks connected by an underground garage, with communication provided by a staircase and lift located in the east wing. The two parts are connected by external platforms, which have become a characteristic element of the entire development.
The architects juxtaposed the scale of the investment with the nearby large-panel buildings, at the same time using a division into two smaller blocks, sloping roofs and a variety of window shapes, as well as alluding to the more intimate architecture of the nearby market in Old Fordon. By doing so, the ‘Rybaki 1’ investment does not dominate the surroundings, but rather complements its diverse structure.
The interiors of the building were designed to avoid the repetitiveness typical of most housing estates. Although the layout of the storeys remains the same, each flat was given an individual character thanks to different window configurations. Variations in their placement affect the sunlight, functional layout and atmosphere of the interiors, giving residents a real choice of the apartment that suits them.
The uniqueness of the “Rybaki 1” project is also emphasised by its façade. A subdued colour scheme inspired by the red of the nearby church was used here, broken up by subtle differences in the texture of the plaster. The characteristic windows, meanwhile, have become one of the main elements of the building’s visual identity.
The “Rybaki 1” investment in Bydgoszcz is an excellent testimony to the fact that residential architecture can go beyond the pattern of simple, angular and homogeneous blocks of flats. It is an offer for those who are looking for individuality, quality and a conscious inclusion in the context of the place, as well as respect for the surrounding history in multi-family buildings.
project: AAYE ARCHITEKCI
name: Rybaki 1
location: Bydgoszcz / Lower Vistula Valley
building area: 1600 sq. m.
completion year: 2024
Read also: Block | Architecture in Poland |Facade | Bydgoszcz | whiteMAD on Instagram
