The concept for is a continuation of work on the competition design. Our entry received second place in the competition for the architectural concept of a pavilion for homeless cats, organized by the city of Warsaw, with the recommendation of the architectural association SARP-Warsaw. We are continuing the competition concept in terms of the idea and functional layout, taking into account additional constraints.
A building designed for cats
The Pavilion will be a branch of the “Na Paluchu” shelter. The building will serve as a 24-hour facility for homeless cats, with veterinary offices, a general hospital ward, and a cats infectious disease hospital. We designed a three-story building with a partial basement. In this project, we prioritize the needs of the cats – its future users. Our goal is to design a facility that sets new standards for buildings dedicated to animals. While designing this building, we want to create an environment as close to home as possible for cats, with respect for the building’s existing surroundings. We designed space for 264 cats in the Pavilion. This meets the high needs of “Na Paluchu” shelter. In the building we are designing offices and laboratories with specialized veterinary equipment necessary for the treatment of homeless cats.
We divided the building into zones based on function and users accessibility. The three sections are separated by corridors. The middle section houses auxiliary and technical functions, as well as a staircase. We located cat care functions, the most important part of the building, along the exterior walls. We designed the functional layout to maximize daylight access to the rooms where the cats will live. We proposed large, vertical windows in a repeating shape that structure the facades.
One of the building’s future users will be the shelter’s volunteers. Furthermore, the Pavilion will serve an educational purpose – on the ground floor, we are designing a room for workshops and classes for 25 people.
Cat terraces
The name is a play on words. In the very center of Warsaw, there’s a famous shopping and commercial complex called Golden Terraces. In our project, terraces for cats are significant.
Outdoor terraces for cats were already included in the competition entry requirements. The meshed aviaries gained a distinctive form in our design. The terraces were located on three sides of the building, providing an enclosure for the animals while also protecting the building from excessive heat. They also diversify the building’s form. We designed a simpler façade on the north side, where veterinary offices and administrative offices are locateded.
A wooden pavilion among the trees
We are designing a building with a wooden structure and reinforced concrete staircase core and basement. To optimally utilize the advantages of prefabricated wooden construction, we have standardized the widths of the sections and corridors.
Wood appears also in the form of formwork on the facade, with the floors sculpturally separated by a variety of patterns. This gives the building a distinctive character. We have differentiated the planks on the facade depending on the floor: on the ground floor, the planks have a more visible pattern, with widths and spacing thinner upwards. This is a reference to the trees surrounding the building – the higher they are, the thinner the branches become.
Surroundings context
The wooden structure and façade are material references to the “Świdermajer” architecture of the Wawer district. The building for cats is a contemporary reference to the historic forms.
The building is surrounded by forest; we want to preserve the natural vegetation layout. We want to plan new plantings in accordance with the local biotope. We care to preserve a valuable tree on the plot, an oak which has monumental value.
Energy-saving solutions
Furthermore, with environmental concerns in mind, we are planning solutions that reduce energy consumption. Therefore, we are designing mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation, as well as exhaust ventilation with heat recovery. Ventilation will be divided into systems based on the hygiene and sanitary functions of the rooms (zones requiring distinct conditions). Supply and exhaust air handling units with heat recovery will be used. Most heated rooms will be designed with surface heating using capillary mats – a low-temperature technology.