The Victorian Collection is tribute paid to the 19th-century architecture of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland at the time it was the superpower ruled by the Queen Victoria. House built in the long period of over 60 years of her reign were a combination of various styles. Elevations were decorated with bay windows, porches, verandas and risalits. Numerous cornices, window frames or bossages were expressions of architects’ love for details and oriental art. They also reached for sophisticated ornamentation: the thriving development of industry accounted for wider production of prefabricated and cast-iron elements, which suddenly became available to worse-off residents of the Kingdom.
Over a hundred years later, this style still amazes. It also inspired prof. Rosolski to create the unique collection of family houses which refer to the esthetics of the times of Queen Victoria but at the same time, respect all requirements stipulated by contemporary investors and ecology. The stylish elevation is the cover for a modern house which offers its residents the comfort of daily use and measurable economic benefits; it cares about the environment, guarantees low carbon footprint and decreased energy consumption.
Since 1999
Build of “Osiedle Parkowe”
Ul. W. Majakowskiego, Poznań
Build of “Osiedle Podkowa”
Koninko near Poznań
Gold Medal for “Dom pod Klucz Rosolski” [Turnkey Home]
BUDMA Poznań International Fair
Build of showhouses from Victorian Collection 1 and Victorian Collection 2
Zalasewo near Poznań
Build of “Osiedle Wiktoriańskie”
Houses of Victorian Collection 1
Zalasewo near Poznań
Changes in construction technologies applied at Osiedle Wiktoriańskie
Zalasewo near Poznań
Changes in construction technologies applied at Osiedle Wiktoriańskie
Such link between history and modernity derived from science and many years’ expertise of the head designer, prof. Sławomir Rosolski, who has worked as a scientist, researcher and architect for over 30 years. At the dawn of the new millennium, the first neo-historic residential districts were designed: Osiedle Parkowe in Poznań and Osiedle Podkowa in Koninko. The first one is the complex of row houses, built among beautiful greenery and old trees, near Lake Maltańskie. Every house in the row is characterised by a different architectural detail, highlighted by its colour and finishing material. The other district offers row and semi-detached houses which resemble the style of northern France and southern England. All Podkowa houses are finished with red ceramic brick. They also have brick architectural details which, thanks to the improved thermal insulation, help to eliminate so called “weak spots” and become a characteristic element referring to the history of architecture. Every house has bricks and grout of different colour to additionally underline their individual character.
Those two dwelling complexes became quite popular among people who were looking for unique architecture and place to live. That fact inspired prof. Rosolski to create his own collection of family houses with integral architectural, technological and ecological value, which refer to the Victorian esthetics. Rosolski proposed houses with the complex spatial arrangement, finishing options and equipment. The buildings are designed with the use of materials of top technical, acoustic, resistance and static parameters. They are equipped with modern devices and systems: central vacuum cleaners, water softeners, ventilation with recuperation and renewable energy sources (heat pump and photovoltaic panels). All parameters of the houses meet requirements of Polish and European norms. The construction process is shorter thanks to prefabrication of the building’s structure, technical equipment and outside cladding; the house is reconstructive in over 90%. It boasts low energy consumption: the share of renewable energy sources for heating is 80%, water heating – 74% and passive cooling – 100%.
reconstructive
share of RES to heat up water
share of RES to heat
share of RES to passive cooling
The collection of Victorian houses was presented for the first time at International Fair of Construction Industry BUDMA 2004 in Poznań. Two elevation variants were shown then: plastered and bricked. The design was awarded with the Gold Medal of MTP (Poznań International Fair). The collection was also presented at numerous conferences, e.g. at the conference of Wielkopolska Izba Budownictwa (Regional Construction Chamber) in May 2009 or at Polish-French conference on passive construction in Poland and France in July 2009. The Victorian house was also a subject of research conducted at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Poznań University of Technology (2012-2013).
In 2008 two showhouses were built: one with plastered elevation and the other with brick. Two years later Osiedle Wiktoriańskie was built in Zalasewo near Poznań. This complex is an implementation of the bigger urban project, which also included especially designed details, such as fences, benches or street lamps.
Today the collection of Victorian houses is extended by other elevation variants. It includes four solutions allowing diversified combinations of materials. The houses are single-floor, detached buildings, without cellars, with or without garage. The gabled roof is covered with graphite ceramic rooftiles. The houses have got a characteristic Victorian detail – a bay window and metal decorations dedicated for this collection, referring to the style of the 19th-century England.