The oldest avenues of the Polish lands will finally regain their splendor. However, two years had to wait to learn about the visualization of their renovated section. During this time a project was created that is good in principle. In detail, however, it shows that it seems to have forgotten what function the avenue is supposed to serve in the city.
Instead of a threshing floor with cars - two rows of densely planted oak trees, a stylized sidewalk pattern and low greenery. Poznan authorities have finally shown a concept for developing the northern part of the historic Marcinkowski Avenues (between 23 Lutego and Solna streets). As announced, the project is in line with the general concept for the entire avenue drawn up a quarter of a century ago by Prof. Wieslaw Krzyzaniak, and consistent with the rest of the tract, which fortunately is already in order. It took a very long time, however. The central part of the Avenues was revalued 20 years ago.
Alley Marcinkowskiego in Poznań - drawing of Prof. Krzyzaniak's vision (vision from the late 1990s, drawing from 2012), visible monument to the street patron
source: FB / Mariusz Wisniewski
This spring, in turn, saw the completion of the transformation of the southern section (which before the renovation was in much better condition than the northern section). We described it in an extensive summary of the completion of the so-called "Center Project" [cf.: The Center of Poznań after the revolution]. Overall, the new design looks good. Is it functional? Not entirely, about which - in a moment.
Marcinkowskiego Avenue in Poznań - the central section revalued in 2003
photo: Jakub Głaz
Like Unter den Linden
The most important thing is that the concept has finally seen the light of day, and there is hope that the rules of correct urban planning will prevail over the city's decades-old triumphant conversion to parking lots. However, the speed at which the transformation of the parking patch into a decent urban space is underway could put a snail 's pace to shame. Especially since a comprehensive renovation of the entire Avenue should have been a municipal priority long ago . If only because it was the first such thoroughfare on Polish soil in the early 19th century. It was created during the expansion of Poznań by the Prussian authorities, who took control of the city as a result of the second partition of Poland.
Marcinkowski Avenue in Poznań - Avenues in the 1830s
Source: Raczynski Library
The pattern was no mean one: Berlin's Unter den Linden avenue. The avenue, known as Wilhelm Avenue, was part of the so-called New Town (today the strict center) located above the old part of Poznań. The route led from south to north just behind the line of dismantled medieval walls. The city's largest representative square (Wilhelm Square, today: Wolności Square) was also delineated adjacent to it. The avenues were planted with rows of Italian poplars. They were a favorite place for walks and horseback rides, and there were considerable penalties for destroying the greenery. Before the development of the eastern frontage, the Avenues offered views of the Old Town below. Throughout the 19th century until 1914, the thoroughfare was lined with important buildings, including the main post office, the court, the Bazar Hotel, the Raczynski Library (on the corner with Wolnosci Square) and the headquarters of today's National Museum. The axis of the street was closed from the north by the commandant's office, demolished after the recent war damage. Today the avenue ends rather blandly at the junction with the busy arterial Solna Street.
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznań - northern end of the avenue, view of St. Wojciech Hill
photo: Jakub Głaz
one zebra, not three!
Degradation began after the last war and the destruction of February 1945. Some buildings were replaced with new ones, others were rebuilt in a simplified form. Patching the gaps in the buildings took several decades. Meanwhile, the stand of trees replenished in the 1950s slowly faded away. It wasn't until 2003 that the central part was planted with pyramidal oaks, which have since reached considerable size. The reconstruction of the southern part (from Liberty Square to Swiety Marcin Street) completed this year. New oak trees were planted (also in front of the National Museum, where there were no trees before), flowerbeds were created and benches stood. Most importantly, however, the pedestrian thoroughfare running down the middle of Avenues became a whole. Until now, it was not possible to cross it straight across the roadways intersecting the Avenues.
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznan - southern section revitalized in recent years, visible crossing in front (previously non-existent).
photo: Jakub Glaz
Here we come to the problem with the new project. Unlike the southern section, which has just been completed, the pedestrian thoroughfare running through the middle of the northern section does not connect to the middle section. The spacious intersection of Avenues with 23 Lutego Street would have the pedestrian take a circuitous route crossing three zebras!
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznań - project of the northern section, on the left - 23 Lutego Street, on the right - Solna Street; visible lack of pedestrian crossings in the axis of the route and additional access from both sides of the street; on the left in the axis of the crossing - the existing Marcinkowski monument in this place, on the right - a marred spatial form, probably "Golem" by David Černý
Source: Stare Miasto Housing Estate Council
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznań - intersection of 23 Lutego Street and Avenues, visible lack of a crosswalk in front is to be fixed
photo: Jakub Głaz
There is also no crosswalk across the entire stretch, which would enable comfortable access to the shaded avenue for visitors to the nearby Court and Police buildings. Meanwhile, an asset of any walkable avenue should be precisely an uninterrupted pedestrian route running along the tree-lined central tract. One that is accessible from both sides along its entire length, not just within successive intersections. The middle of the avenue should not be a green, but an "extraterritorial" corridor. Finally, the monument parked in the visualization at the northern end of the redesigned section is disturbing. It is apparent that decision-makers still want to move the Golem statue by David Černý here (it currently stands in a much better location in the central part of the avenue).
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznań - intersection with 23 Lutego Street, in the foreground "Golem" designed by David Černý
photo: Jakub Głaz
time for other avenues
Fortunately, the Old Town Neighborhood Council has already declared that it will pay attention to these functional issues. There is still time to fix them, as the City is seeking funding for the reconstruction from EU funds to support small-scale retention of green and blue infrastructure for metropolitan Poznań. A detailed detailed detailed design will therefore only be developed. Implementation of the sentence, in turn, will be entrusted to the company Poznańskie Inwestycje Miejskie, the same one responsible for the Center Project we reviewed in June. Let's hope that this time the level of execution and supervision of the investment will be at a higher level.
Marcinkowskiego Avenues in Poznań - the northern section of the Avenue serving as a substandard parking lot
photo: Jakub Glaz
It would also be worthwhile to take a look at another important avenue in Poznań : Niepodległości Avenue - over a century younger than Aleje Marcinkowskie, longer, wider and at the same time also derailed by two oversized intersections. Since the need for green links wrapping the entire city was written into the updated Study of Conditions and Directions of Development, it's time to make the existing green tracts a meaningful whole. Sometimes all it takes is a change in traffic organization and the painting of lanes.
