Using creative approaches for discovering biomorphic forms for appropriate human habitation in natural environments: Case study of Kashubian Lake District

Abstract

The research process consisted of studies of natural and cultural conditions of the Kashubian Lake District This is an area of exceptional natural conditions. For centuries, it has seen human habitation with respect to landscape values. Given its extensive forest cover and the lack of heterogeneity of natural conditions, the area has become an interesting inspiration for the author’s original project. The project is aimed at searching for appropriate forms of human habitation. Creative activities, owing to the creation of a large number of drawings and paintings that feature diagrams of initial forms, followed by sculptures inspired by them, aim at identifying biomorphic solutions, spatial forms that match the site of the study. Methodically, in order to achieve the goal, an original research and artistic concept was designed whose non-obvious results make it possible to treat the given task as a divergence problem. The essential artistic part comprised creating small-scale sculptures of clay, which were later to be placed in appropriately selected places. The photographic documentation offered the possibility to work at the analytical and comparative level, with an account of the obtained effects and their potential. Ultimately, the author seeks an answer to how to design houses in this region. The results come in the form of a complete multi-element set of biomorphic forms; directly or indirectly transformable into architectural objects, they provide model hints to classifiable sets of features conducive to arriving at a match with a place. The creative method proves appropriate for architectural design, as it constitutes its initial stage in the case of inhabiting natural environments. It yields favourable forecasts for creating a catalogue of design guidelines for residential buildings located in the area of the Kashubian Lake District.

Keywords:

• natural conditions
• Kashubian Lake District
• house
• bimorphic forms
• bionics
• divergence problem

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Kashubia: a culturally autonomous region in northern Poland, with an autonomous identity and characteristic rural development, with its own language, currently honored by visible respect for local identity and distinctiveness.

2. The provisions of Agenda 2030 of the UN resolution, cf.:https://www.un.org.pl/agenda-2030-rezolucja

3. Thematic studies refer to the study of source materials in the field of the geography and flora of the studied region, comprising the specificity of the lake district area, the history of settlement, focusing on the forms of inhabitation, in-situ research of selected places in terms of their particular shape and botanical diversity.

4. Bionics [gr.], a field of knowledge on the border of biology and technical sciences that concerns technical applications of the principles of functioning with regards to living organisms or processes observed in these organisms or in their communities, https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/bionika;3877863.html [dostęp: 30.03.2022].

5. Bionics seen as an interdisciplinary science studies the structure and operation of living organisms. Architecture can draw on this research methodology; the results of analyzes of botanical forms (their structure and topographical setting, processes of growth and response to climatic and weather factors) can be transferred to the search within the plastic forms of architectural objects or purely artistic forms that precede them.

6. Based on: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/site-specific [dostęp: 30.01.2023].

7. Selection of works: intentional project entitled “Schronienie” [Shelter], a series of sculptures and presentation, art festival “Pictures painted with fire” [Obrazy ogniem malowane], Gdański Archipelag Kultury PLAMA [Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture PLAMA], Gdańsk 2016; intentional project “Kapsuły tożsamości” [Capsules of Identity] (cooperation with Maciej Tryba), art festival “Pictures painted with fire” [Obrazy ogniem malowane], Gdański Archipelag Kultury PLAMA [Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture PLAMA], Gdańsk 2018; painting diptych entitled “Dream about Kashubian habitation” [Sen o kaszubskim zamieszkiwaniu], collective exhibition “Przestrzeń Otwarta” [Open Space], Instytut Wzornictwa Politechniki Koszalińskiej [Institute of Design, Koszalin University of Technology], Koszalin 2019; painting exhibition “Istota zamieszkiwania” [The Essence of Hanitation “Stacja Kultura” Istota zamieszkiwania [Municipal Public Library in Rumi]a, Rumia 2020; interdisciplinary exhibition (graphics/painting/sculpture/photography) entitled “Kaszubskie zamieszkiwanie. Studium” [Kashubian habitation. A study]¸ PLAMA Gdański Archipelago of Culture Gdański Archipelag Kultury PLAMA [Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture PLAMA], Gdańsk 2020 (as part of the Scholarship for creators of culture of the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, 2020 edition); exhibition of graphics and photographs “Kaszuby bionicznie. Studium formy” [Bionic Kashubia. Form Study], Kaszubski Uniwersytet Ludowy [Kashubian Folk University], Wieżyca 2022; exhibition of paintings and sculptures “dom w lesie. kaszubskie schronienie” [House in the woods. Kashubian Shelter]”, “Galeria na piętrze” [Gallery on the first floor], Gdański Archipelag Kultury STACJA ORUNIA [Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture, ORUNIA STATION], Gdańsk 2022–2023

8. This character is especially revealed in the work by Ana Mendieta, i.e., “Untitled” from 1980, Cfr.: https://www.anamendietaartist.com/dostęp.

9. Jacek Tylicki, project „Natural art”, commencement 1973. Cf.: http://www.tylicki.com/tylicki-polska.html [accessed: 30.01.2023].

10. Established by Izydora i Teodor Gulgowscy.

11. http://www.gdansk.lasy.gov.pl, Regionalna Dyrekcja Lasów Państwowych w Gdańsku, [accessed: 06.03.2018].

12. Regionalism is understood as an attempt to maintain the aforementioned local characteristics. Pro-regional activities are the opposite of the universalization and uniformization of culture. At the same time, they offer an antidote to the illegibility and sterility of spatial messages.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Agnieszka Kurkowska

Agnieszka Kurkowska DR [PhD], adiunkt assistant professor at Wydział Architektury Politechniki Gdańskiej [The Faculty of Architecture, Gdańsk University of Technology. An architect and participant in artistic projects. An author and co-author of architectural objects and urban composition, as well as of small useable forms. She works on the theory of architecture (inhabitable space) and the space architecture shares with art. Additionally, she takes a vivid interest in general education in architecture. She has authored scientific publications; she has participated in art exhibitions (intentional projects, photography, sculpture, painting) and acted as a curator thereof. She touches the world with the form. She draws, sculpts and situates clay objects to verify whether the place accepts them. She seeks a sense of compliance. For her, compliance directs the attempts at creating forms. The author suspends her thoughts between what is known and what is expected by her. Her experiences create forms. Her forms are woven from dreams and arranged from experience; they touch with hope, their well-thought shape borrowed from the place and donated to the place. Forms that can accommodate houses as shelters safely embedded in the Kashubian landscape. Forms that sound of the forest. Outline and contact plane.They define the course of the relationship. She expects them to confirm the purpose of her search. This stage of the process carries the fear of failure but is also marked with the hope of adaptation. The most important aspect is the touch extended along the irregularity of the object. Touching the ground and air. Touching the backgrounds. The emanated smell and the evoked sensation. Transience that gives meaning.