The Society of Polish Urban Planners has announced the results of the competition for the best developed public space in Poland - 2020 edition. The competition's chapter awarded the Grand Prix and prizes in three categories: Public space in green, Revitalized public space in green, Revitalized urban public space. The expansion of educational infrastructure in naturally valuable areas administered by Geopark Kielce was considered the best realization.
The purpose of the competition organized every year by the Society of Polish Town Pl anners is to shape the modern image of the country by promoting the best realized urban and architectural projects, maintained at a world level, and promoting solutions that create a new quality of Polish public space. The first nationwide edition of the competition was held in 2007 on the initiative of TUP President Tadeusz Markowski, and since 2008 the Association of Polish Cities has been co-organizing the undertaking.
The competition jury, which included representatives of the Board of Directors of the Society of Polish Urban Planners, presidents of the local branches of the Society of Polish Urban Planners, Małgorzata Pilinkiewicz - president of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, Bohdan Lisowski - president of the Association of Polish Architects, decided to award the Grand Prix and prizes in three categories: Public space in green, Revitalized public space in green, Revitalized urban public space.
Grand Prix
The competition jury decided to award the Grand Prix to the development of educational infrastructure in naturally valuable areas administered by Geopark Kielce. The authors of the development concept (pedestrian and bicycle footbridge) is JJ Studio of Architecture Janusz Janik, and 2Gstudio is responsible for the development project.
Grand Prix of the competition for the best developed public space in Poland
© TUP
The Grand Prix was awarded for the implementation of a multifaceted spatial project, which included the creation of off-road infrastructure for nature conservation, education and tourism in the post-mining areas of Wietrznia and Kadzielnia, located in Kielce. The areas of former open-pit rock mining were transformed into a tourist and educational area making full use of the natural potential with new recreational infrastructure. Spatial activities have had a positive impact on the channeling of tourist traffic in naturally valuable areas and on raising the environmental awareness of users. The Competition Jury appreciated the entirety of the revaluation activities performed cyclically within the framework of this project. - We read in the justification of the jury.
Public space in greenery
TheGreat Synagogue Memorial Park in Oswiecim received the main prize in the Public Space in Greenery category. The authors of the project are Bartosz Haduch and Łukasz Marjański of NArchitekTURA. Magdalena Poprawska of Imagina Studio is responsible for the design cooperation, Maria Koczur is responsible for the construction and Robert Haponik is responsible for the electrical system design.
The Great Synagogue Memorial Park in Oswiecim received the main prize in the Public Space in Greenery category
photo by Piotr Strycharski
The award was given for the realization of the pocket-sized Memorial Park, whose universal symbolism reflects different cultures and religions. The park is located in the center of Oswiecim, and its open form allows for different ways of using, commemorating history and interpreting the space. The Competition Jury appreciated the idea of a "path of life" with a unique material solution and emphasized the symbolic dimension of the park without a clear beginning and end. A place was created that is now a place of rest and quiet recreation among the greenery, but at the same time a space for reflection on the multicultural heritage of the city near Auschwitz.
honorable mention for the boulevard in Lubliniec
© Lubliniec Commune
LubliniecMunicipality received a distin ction for the boulevard from Grunwaldzka Street to Sportowa Street in Lubliniec, its designer is Gramar office.The Competition Jury appreciated the urban legibility of the park assumption, the compositional division into activity zones and quiet and rest zones, as well as great attention to the material solutions of small architecture enriching the green public space.
Revitalized public space in greenery
Themain award in the category of revitalized public space went to the project for the revitalization of green areas in Swidnica. Gen. Władysław Sikorski Park was revitalized, the IKROPKA Landscape Architecture Studio was responsible for the greenery in the area, and the infrastructure project was carried out by the PROGRESS Project and Investment Implementation Office . The Central Park was made by the Archiprojekt Włodzimierz Banaś studio, and the Square on the 1000th Anniversary of the Polish State was made by Pracownia Projektów SZTUKA OGRODÓW L'ART DES JARDINS.
Main prize in the category Revitalized public space in greenery - green areas in Świdnica
© Municipality of the City of Swidnica
The award was given for the comprehensive revaluation of three park spaces, carried out in accordance with the tradition and history of the city. As a result of the revaluation, places integrating the local community were created for rest, recreation and entertainment. The multi-faceted renovation of Wladyslaw Sikorski Park, Central Park and the square on the 1000th anniversary of PP were part of the comprehensive program "Revitalization of green areas in Swidnica", which aims to restore the natural and landscape values of park spaces and create a new attractiveness of the city.
2nd place went to the project to revitalize Podzamcze Park in Leczna. Piotr Hradecki is responsible for the architecture, and Kanska Biuro Projektowe and Argo Atelier Milena Gawąd are responsible for the landscape architecture.
Revitalization of Podzamcze Park in Leczna with 2nd prize
photo: Grzegorz Bąk
The award was given for the revitalization of the former manor and park establishment known as Podzamcze Park, in particular for the restoration of the quaternary Italian garden and the 19th century romantic park. The Competition Jury appreciated the careful restoration of the historical compositional arrangements while adapting them to the needs of modern users, the choice of plant species and the functional diversity introduced in the park area. The former Podzamcze was transformed into a living room of the city with careful development, interesting spatial layout, a high degree of security and high social activity.
Honorable mention for the City Park in Starogard Gdański
Photo: Im-Vision.pl
An honorable mention was given to the City Park in Starogard Gdanski, for the design of which ECOZET Kaliska Kościerskie is responsible. The TUP Competition Chapter appreciated the activities related to the compositional arrangement of the space and social, cultural and educational activation.
Revitalized urban public space
The main award in this category went to Train to Culture - the development of former railroad areas in Pleszew. It is a multi-phase project consisting of the Public Library (architecture - Lukasz Trafas, construction - Mariusz Kończal, sanitary installations - Jacek Sikora, electrical installations - Leszek Trzybiński), the Cultural Center located in the building of the former steam locomotive depot (
architecture - Łukasz Trafas, construction - Mariusz Kończal, sanitary installations - Joanna Łamek, electrical installations - Leszek Trzybiński), reconstruction of Kolejowa Street (road industry - Piotr Kołaski. Lech Marciniak, electrical engineering - Roman Kubiak, landscape architecture - Magdalena Sobczak), development of the area adjacent to the railway station.
The main award went to Train to Culture - the development of former railroad areas in Pleszew
photo: Roman Urbaniak
The award was given for the comprehensive revitalization of former railroad areas and facilities transformed into a center of social life. A public library and a new seat of the Municipal House of Culture were created in the former railroad station area, the surrounding space in the former railroad station area was rebuilt and valuable elements of the railroad infrastructure were exposed. The site has become a monument to the region's history and a magnet for narrow-gauge rail enthusiasts from all over the country and Europe. The Competition Committee appreciated the ingenuity of spatial solutions, precision in preserving historical values and the social quality of the changes introduced in the revitalization process.
1.distinction for the Market Square in Ruda Śląska - Orzegowo
© TUP
Market Squarein Ruda Śląska - O rzegowo by Pracownia Projektowa Architekt Jacek Leśko received a 1.distin ction for comprehensive revitalization of the public urban interior surrounded by residential, commercial and sacred buildings. The Competition Committee appreciated the apt and aesthetically pleasing use of space for the realization of social purposes, giving the place a centripetal function and developing a space of high usable quality for residents.
Thewoonerf on Abrahama Street in Gdynia was awarded the 2nd honorable mention. Responsible for its design are: Monika Arczyńska and Łukasz Pancewicz - A2P2 architecture & planning, Maciej Nagórski - NANU Pracownia Architektoniczna and Bartosz Zimny. The branch projects were done by Record Sp. z o.o., and the competition concept was done by Maja Bazylko and Tomasz Jażdżewski.
2nd honorable mention for Woonerf in Gdynia
© TUP
The award was given for creating a traffic-calmed place with priority for pedestrians and bicycles, and for the functional and aesthetic transformation of the urban interior of the street in the city center. A new, attractive space inspired by Gdynia modernism was created. The jury appreciated the ingenuity of the spatial solutions introduced in the interior of the street and increasing the safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as emphasizing the functional attractiveness dedicated to residents and tourists. Particularly noteworthy was the active involvement of the local community in the process of transformation and revitalization activities.
