Polish architecture studio FAAB has wrapped a research center with white perforated facade evoking the complexity of sea waves in Sopot, Poland.

Named Wave One, the 3,160-square-metre building was realized as one of five buildings for the European Center for Families in Sopot, Poland. 

The project is located 400 meters (a quarter mile) from the Baltic Sea in what is historically known as a health resort town. To create this weavy façade, FAAB takes cues from the complexity of sea waves and the local vernacular of carved ornamental detailing on facade elements. 

Drawing from this, the architects devised a site concept composed of five inter-related buildings that can act reminiscent of waves. 

After a long design and construction process, Wave One is the first built project that encompasses specialized medical laboratories including Covid-19 testing labs, a research & development center and administration spaces.

The studio designs an all-white perforated facade that gives the identity of the building. The facade was partly inspired by a series of photographs by Pierre Carreau, titled AquaViva. 

Based on the nature of the photographs, the architects analyzed the geometric complexity of the sea waves and they translated the arched 3D forms, frozen in time, into an architectural language that shaped the building’s final form. 

The facade is made of 1,362 perforated triangular panels, just like a wave, bends at its crest, the top of the building.

According to the studio, there are two references for symbolic gesture for the panels perforations. 

The first one is the local tradition of placing ornamental details carved in wood on buildings’ facade. 

The second one is the flower of life, an ancient motif credited with healing powers, befitting the healthcare function of the investment.

"The panels perforations made it possible to bring about an airiness and dissipation of the building in space, particularly visible in the upper realm of the facade," said the office.

"The East/west elevations take on 3D form with triangular panels of sintered white ceramics, skewing and reflecting sunlight onto the pavement. They create a transient detail, enlivening the immediate surroundings of the building."

The building features equally curved surface that is a reference to the concavity of a sea wave - inspired the shape of the building mass. The amply curved canopy over the South entrance was digitally 3D modelled by the architects then submitted to the local contractors to prepare one-to-one mock-ups. 

Adjustment were made on-site in order to create a seamless union with adjacent panels and ensure the fluidity of the perforated pattern. A painstaking task, since curvature and deviation from the vertical are along both axes of the facade, not excluding the additional presence of operable shutters.

The three-storey building has also a terrace that is divided into technical and recreational by an acoustically insulating wall. The recreational terrace is open to all employees and provides work place well-being and a visual connection to the Baltic Sea.

While cold, reagent stores, server and technical rooms are placed at the basement floor, lobby, collection point, medical analytical laboratory with fully automated medical laboratory equipment based on robotic sorting lines are designed on the ground floor.

First floor is dedicated to molecular biology laboratory carrying out research in the field of genetics and cytology, cytogenetics and virological laboratory is adjacent.

A research and development center is placed on the second floor. This center also creates specialized software to streamline implementation and increase accessibility of medical procedures. The software is based on the technology of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Investor headquarters and offices, intended for the development of research projects, are placed on the third floor.

The studio noted that "due to the difficult situation in 2020 (availability of testing facilities) a decision was made during construction, to convert part of the space into a SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics lab." 

"This laboratory continues to be used to determine new types of mutations. A vaccination point was organized in the building and used by the inhabitants of Sopot," the office added.

Construction is also underway on other three buildings, out of five buildings planned for the site. The final building (Wave Three) is in the design phase. 

Once completed, the ECR complex of health care facilities will comprise: an outpatient hospital with an operating theatre, treatment unit and an IVF laboratory (Wave Two), specialist inpatient hospital with a gynecology and obstetrics profile, delivery and neonatal unit (Wave Three), rehabilitation center, including hyperbaric chamber and cryo chamber (Wave Four&Five). 

Construction works are expected to be completed in 2023.

Site plan

Axonometric drawing

Axonometric drawing

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Terrace floor plan

Section

Section

Section

Elevation

Façade detail

Façade detail

Stair detail

FAAB, founded by Adam Białobrzeski and Adam Figurski, is an award winning architecture practice based in the Warsaw, Poland. FAAB's Regional Blood Center In Racibórz won the WA Awards in the 20th Cycle. 

Project facts

Building name: Wave One
Complex name: The European Center For Families - Sopot, Poland
Location: Europe, Poland, Sopot, 64 Polna Str.
Function: healthcare, medical laboratories, research laboratories, offices,
Surface area: 11,180 m2
Ground surface, phase 1: 4,230 m2
Building footprint: 639 m2
Building area: 3,160 m2
Number of levels: 1 underground, 4 above ground, terraces.
Building height: 20,0 m→highest point of facade; 15,93 m→at recreational terrace. 

Construction: IV.2019-IX.2021 (including interior finishes)
Investor: Invicta Clinics and Medical Laboratories

Architects, project team: Adam Białobrzeski, Adam Figurski, Maria Messina, Anna Miłosz, Mikołaj Szewczyk
Concrete structure engineers: Kappa Projekt
Steel structure engineers: PF Projekt
Electrical/Sanitary engineers: Profen

All images © Maciej Lulko

All drawings © FAAB

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