Horn Architects

Hotel RESORT&SPA Dźwirzyno

Hotel RESORT&SPA Dźwirzyno

Hotel RESORT&SPA Dźwirzyno

Hotel RESORT&SPA Dźwirzyno

Medical therapeutic sanatorium Dźwirzyno

Medical therapeutic sanatorium Dźwirzyno

Medical therapeutic sanatorium Dźwirzyno

Multifamily housing estate located at Odra river bank's new urban development, Wrocław.

Multifamily housing estate located at Odra river bank's new urban development, Wrocław.

Multifamily housing estate located at Odra river bank's new urban development, Wrocław.

Multifamily housing estate located at Odra river bank's new urban development, Wrocław.

Competition project of the new culture house and the hotel for Skelleftea, Sweden, in the form and functional layout that we designed is the responce for a sustainable policy of the town. The main idea of the project is based on preserving the role of the town square Perseus, the location. Building "floats" above the square and forms a roofing and frame for it. The hotel part in a shape of a tower with timber mesh facades becomes a visual landmark in surrounding area and an invitation to participate in cultural events and conferences. Link to our project at Swedish Architects official website.

City square in our design is incorporated into the interior as the main event space in culture house and entrance to hotel. Its clear open layout allows for various arrangements depending on the current schedule (conferences, theatre performances, festivals, etc.). Due to shielding of this space by the building’s structure it becomes possible to make use of it during all seasons of the year, despite harsh climatic conditions of North Sweden.

The use of timber and wood, bright colours and glazing in places optimal for daylight illumination of spaces are the key elements in our design in terms of creating of the pleasant internal climate in this far northern location. Economy and life of Skellefteå is based on the timber industry, so we chose to use the wooden finishes of interiors and timber ornament on the active facades for the “visiting card” or “brand mark” of the city character of the building. Apart from the intended visual effect, timber plays the role in construction of active facades as a part of the technical and energy solutions for the building regulated by BMS (building management system).

The timber elements of active ventilated facades have a structural significance for control of daylight and energy balance. Their poetic message is based on the association with the natural areas around Skellefteå with hills and forests. Organic ornament of timber facades is intended to evoke positive associations with relax and encourage to participate in cultural life, and at the same time as the city’s “visiting card” to commercial development by attracting new visitors and guests for the culture house and hotel.

Competition entry for the concept of the multifamily building, Stortorget, Katrineholm, Sweden. The reference to the nature is our base for the project, as a figurative source of energy and ideas for design. The building is intended to become a spatial frame for warmth, sunshine and greenery and through this to complement surroundings and protect against the noise coming from the railway line located behind the new object. The design proposal is housing structure placed on retail ground floor. Its symbolic meaning is that nice space for living needs strong, economic base with cultural potential.

The form of the building results of spatial analysis of its relationship with surroundings and pedestrian routs on the square. It also refers to existing neighbourhood buildings by light, elegant and rhythmic form in bright colours enhancing the colour climate of the square. The building’s technical concept and finishing materials together with its function to activate the social life in the Stortorget area place the design in the stream of sustainability. In our design we searched for rational architecture of the new building as a friendly place for dwelling and city life.

An important feature of the Nowe Żerniki housing estate - WuWA 2 is the functional diversity - apart from residential quarters there are areas designed for recreation and cultural activities. The new cultural center is planned to adapt and expand the existing anti-airraids bunker from the Second World War. Our concept is a proposal of a building with open and friendly spaces in a light form of a pavilion integrated into the surrounding green area. It can be phased out, with the initial adaptation of the bunker building and subsequent expansion in the form of a pavilion extending the existing facility. Our design was stylistically related to the character of the new housing development in the surrounding area.

Conceptual design of the church for Nowe Żerniki - WuWA 2 housing estate.

Conceptual design of the church for Nowe Żerniki - WuWA 2 housing estate.

SCIENCE ISLAND KAUNAS INTERNATIONAL DESIGN CONTEST Project of Science and Innovation Centre in Kaunas, Lithuania offers high quality spaces for thematic expositions, scientific experience, events, relax and meetings. Located on the Nemunas Island it strengthens its identity by shaping of the building in the form emerging from green landscape, with keeping the views over Island and continuity of the routes from the Old Town and surrounding city.

It becomes quintessence of the Island as the green enclave in Kaunas kept in its naturalness by Nemunas. Island’s unique character is so exceptional, that the Science Centre is designed to preserve its naturalness, responding in the sublime way to genius loci of Island embraced by majestic presence of Nemunas. River was a vital environment for fishermen and rafters, who observed its functioning and gained experience to harmoniously benefit from its resources and beauty. Poetic reference to the boat on the river is an invitation to follow this path of building knowledge and developing humanism through scientific experiencing and discovery.

Soft landscape stylistics introduces harmony into neighbourhood of Zaligiris Arena dominating in surrounding area. To make use of existing infrastructure the building is located at the point of best possibility of supplies, at the same moment fitting into net of pedestrian and vehicular routes both on island and leading to the city via bridges. Greenery on the roof plays important role in rainwater management, local microclimate and Island’s biodiversity. Compact form of the building under the green roof together with modern technical solutions (including green-energy heating devices) assure energy-efficiency and thus the technical aspects of the building are consistent with its landscape form.

Functionality, energy-efficiency and the educational role of the building itself are the aspects of sustainable design of the object. Sustainable Science Centre promotes environmentally friendly attitudes by attractive merging cognitive activities with relax and social life in spaces open to beauty of surrounding natural landscape. Moreover to promote sustainable architecture visitors can get information about building’s performance by presentation of metering and functioning of installations in economic and green energy context. Interior design offers flexibility of various arrangements and many possible natural and artificial lighting scenarios depending on the current exhibition or event.

Visual and functional connection of virtual planetarium and laboratories gives the possibility for joint shows and events (Laboratories can be however operated independently). Clear functionality, easy communication and flow of people and goods are achieved by linear organization of parallel public and staff zones under large span of timber grate roof and technical zone under green escarpment. Structural concept is based on simplicity, prefabrication, economic construction and operation.

The building offers good environment for everybody. Main entrance area is attractive due to restaurant with the spiral ramp to green roof, with model of Earth in the middle as the reference to the theme of preserving of Earth’s natural resources and respect to the natural environment. Main structural and finishing materials: timber/wood and glass are easy to recycle. Large openings to surrounding landscape are integral with external form of the Centre and strengthen the flow of space.

Concept of the multifamily building with underground garage, retail units at the ground floor, located close to recreational harbour of the river Oławka in Wrocław, for international developer Futureal.