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Conversion Study for Missile Base Museum
design: bc. Petra Jablonická, bc. Matúš Hudec
year: 2021
The intention of the conceptual design is to create a suitable functional filling for the existing objects and at the same time to make full use of the natural environment for visitors. This environment is casually complemented by works of art that emerge from behind the trees and thus form natural part of the forest.
The architectural approach of our design is based on retaining the original architecture as much as possible and therefore we propose to clean the concrete objects from the deposits that accumulated there during the period of the site's non-functionality (graffiti, possible larger natural deposits preventing the comfortable use of the buildings, etc.). In most of the buildings we can only work with two facades - the entrance facade and the roof - so we decided to use the roof landscape, which is characteristic of our design. The biggest interventions that we are creating is the addition of skylights on the roofs of the buildings. At the same time, to create a new function in these spaces, we saw it as essential to create good lighting conditions.
These skylights already suggest in a way what is happening inside the building - shed skylights on buildings with an exhibition function, circular skylights for buildings with a wellness function
etc. At the same time, in the tangle of trees, a visitor may often not notice the building and so the use of terracotta-coloured concrete skylights gently protruding from behind the trees would also be a kind of
navigation system in this natural environment.
Existing buildings were functionally revitalized to work together to create logical zoning, while new central pedestrian and bicycle paths were created to better internal connectivity. A network of benches and information boards informing about the former missile base area are placed along the paths.
To improve accessibility for visitors travelling by car or public transport, the site is complemented by a car park and public transport stop in the north-eastern part, close to the entrance.
In the entrance part of the site, the former accommodation monoblock building is proposed as the Missile Base Museum on the 1st floor, together with information, a café and a shop belonging to the Museum. On the 2nd floor there is a restaurant and a conference hall for public events (also at state level) and on the top 3rd floor there is accommodation for conference visitors.
The northern part of the area with the former car park buildings is transformed into a tourist accommodation zone. The accommodation is located off the main tourist routes and therefore offers
more privacy for visitors who would like to spend the night in these unique spaces. The accommodation units on the westernmost part of this zone are proposed as commercial Airbnb-style accommodation and therefore offer a greater degree of comfort, but at a cost to the visitor. The accommodation in the eastern part of the zone is designed as free accommodation and therefore offers a roof over the head for adventurous tourists who need to fold up for the night and unpack their sleeping bags inside by a warming fireplace. This accommodation is therefore free of charge but is subject to registration. There are toilets and showers between the two accommodation units.
The wellness area is located in concrete shelters set into the ground in the western part of the site. As mentioned above, these individual spaces are enriched with terracotta-coloured concrete light conductors, which create a suitable ambient atmosphere in the passages intended for the wellness area. The following are proposed in the individual pavilions: swimming pool with whirlpool / relaxation pools with hot and cold water for blood circulation / meditation pavilion / saunas. This zone is located close to the accommodation zone, but is also freely accessible to visitors outside. Parts of the pools are connected by a colonnade hidden among the trees.
The culture and exhibition area is located to the south of the Museum building. Together it consists of three buildings designed for art exhibitions / accommodation for visiting artists / amphitheatre. The three buildings of the former shelters are supplemented in our design with shed roofs and thus we create lighting conditions suitable for the display of artworks in them. The "truncated" building is transformed in our proposal into accommodation for visiting artists, as it naturally provides us with sufficient layout space. Also proposed is the addition of a second floor on half of the area for outdoor art studios. The insertion of the storey inside the plan visually reduces the volume of this extension and therefore does not cause a disturbance. The roof of the building is designed as a green walking terrace.
One of the launching ramps is also included in the cultural zone - a proposed use for occasional theatrical events - and so is complemented by seating in the hillside and a circular stage. The function of the former command post building, located in the southern part of the site, is in our view suitable as a multifunctional space for events. The roofscape is complemented by rectangular skylights that allow the space to be used during the day as additional exhibition space or for corporate events and alternative theatre performances, but the spaces are also attractive for occasional use for techno parties, fashion shows etc.
Today we can only recognize the evaporation ramps thanks to the preserved morphology, so we found it interesting to use these "unnatural" phenomena. We decided to keep one of the ramps as it is and use it for the "nature trail", another one, mentioned above, is used as an amphitheatre, while the third one, closest to the observation tower, is designed for a children's playground. The last one (the fourth one) is completed with furnishings, more precisely with seating in the slope, since it is on the same axis as the event space and the toilets, it offers visitors a well-deserved rest after the day's experience.
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