Crab Houses: A Fusion of Art, Science, and Nature

Architects Dagmara Oliwa & Anita Luniak's Innovative Multifunctional Complex

The design of the Crab Houses is unique, with the shape of the pavilions inspired by crabs entering a rippling sea of grass. At night, the pavilions will be illuminated, resembling fireflies hovering over the town. The complex includes a research lab, a workshop, and two residential buildings, intended to be a link between the urban tissue and the natural environment. The use of innovative materials and technologies such as recuperators, heat pumps, and photovoltaic cells further sets this design apart.

The Crab Houses complex is designed to be built with laminated timber and steel. The coatings are planned to be made of panels of transparent glass fiber laminate, manufactured in a CNC center. Platforms made of timber and locally sourced stone will lead to the buildings located on the slope. The technical specifications of the design include a research lab measuring 16.5m in length, 14.4m in width, and 3.1-7.3m in height, and a residential building measuring 13.75m in length, 12m in width, and 2.6-6.1m in height.

The Crab Houses are designed to be a center of creative action, a meeting place for scientists, artists, and residents of Sobotka. The complex will also serve as a venue for creative workshops for children and young people. Guests will have the opportunity to stay in the houses on the hill and share their passions with the inhabitants of the region. This innovative design stands as a mark of the 21st century, combining innovation with the picturesque landscape of Sobotka.

The project, which started in December 2016 and finished in March 2017, faced several challenges. The location was difficult, as the construction of modern facilities was planned in an area of historical development. Legal issues and the reception by the community, for whom such an implementation may be a first contact with modern, abstract architecture, were also challenges. However, the designers believe that the project will gain acceptance and that the inhabitants will see the chance to change and revitalize the town.

The Crab Houses project was awarded the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.