Wings Over Pomerania: Aero-Club and Rural Airfield Hub for Regional Activation in Borsk

Project idea

General Aviation (GA) in Poland is experiencing rapid growth, yet it is severely limited by
inadequate, outdated infrastructure and is significantly disconnected from local communities.

This diploma project addresses these dual challenges by proposing the revitalization of an
underutilized post-military airstrip in Borsk, Pomerania, into a modern, multifunctional aeroclub.
The main objective is to popularise aviation by lowering the barrier to entry while transforming
the facility into a hub for regional economic and cultural development.

Project description

Guided by the sustainable principles of the New European Bauhaus, the architectural design
prioritizes low-impact, low-energy, near off-grid operations through the integration of solar
energy infrastructure, conscious water and sewage management, independent from any
municipal networks and sustainable construction type of hempcrete filled timber frame.

Furthermore, the project directly approaches the dialogue between truly utilitarian aviation hubs
and local residents by adopting a highly contextual design language. By introducing Borsk
Embroidery, an original, created for the project architectural motif originated from traditional Kashubian aesthetics
and drawing inspiration from historical, vernacular architecture, the complex bridges the gap
between modern aviation technology and regional heritage.

Ultimately, the Borsk Aeroclub
serves as a scalable concept for sustainable GA infrastructure that enriches, rather than
disrupts, the local landscape and community life.

Technical information

Most of the walls are filled with hempcrete blocks. This material naturally controls the
indoor climate, creating a healthy space that fits perfectly with the aeroclub's forest location.
Hempcrete also works very well with wooden structures. It controls moisture and reduces the
risk of mold. Even though these blocks do not carry the building's weight, their mass provides
great thermal and acoustic insulation.

A wooden structure was chosen because there is a wood processing plant nearby. The building
uses a BSH wooden frame system, with lightweight wooden floors and ceilings. Buying
materials locally lowers costs, supports the local economy, and makes transport much easier
and faster.

Overall, the construction process is designed to be fast and simple, to limit the work done on the
building site as much as possible. Most parts are prefabricated or very easy to install. This
allows to build everything quickly, despite the large size of the project.

Documentation

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