Home for the Homeless - House of Cordial Mother of God

In the shelter people in crisis of homelessness can receive help with establishing identity and obtaining documents, they get medical help, diagnosis and therapy provided by volunteer doctors. Residents and caregivers created an inclusive place where everyone is welcome. The wooden house-shaped chapel is a heart of the building. Community gathers there every evening with people from the neighbourhood who come for a mass, dinner and chats. Near the highway, among old workshops and houses the modest building harmonizes the space and the safe, socially vibrant place initiates area regeneration.

The facility was built with a modest budget of €2 million from a foundation. Many materials, like end-of-lines and unwanted items were donated and had to be implemented in the project. The biggest challenge was the context. The shelter is located near the ring road, surrounded by neglected warehouses, scrapyards and small houses, all covered in rusty, brownish tones. The aim was to bring order to the chaos by a geometric, simple shape and blend in with what was already there using raw materials and terracotta shades. The residents are people in homelessness crisis who need urgent medical care as well as caregivers, medics and members of the Chleb Życia community, who live in small studios. The floor plan is clear, with a logical division into zones so it is easy to navigate. The space is multifunctional and flexible, prepared for emergency situations. A spacious basement houses storage for clothing, laundry and sanitary facilities and can serve as a shelter for the local population.

The building is designed in the spirit of regenerative design, with attention to not only minimise its carbon footprint, but also to have a positive impact on the environment, including the local community. The structure is made of reinforced concrete with appropriately selected aerated concrete that does not require additional thermal insulation. The ceilings are prefabricated, made of prestressed beams and filled with lightweight pressed wood mouldings with very good acoustic parameters. The chapel is made of CLT. On the floors there are mainly linoleum and donated ceramic tiles. A few months ago a wooden „The future pavilion” was built behind the shelter. It was originally made by WUT students as a temporary structure in another location. During a workshop with students and residents it was redesigned, adapted to the needs of people with disabilities, and then reassembled in the garden area, where it will remain permanently.