The key to the selection of this year's winners of the TUP competition for the best public space in Wielkopolska may be the word "connection." The three honored realizations positively influence the spatial connection of the surrounding areas. Recognized were Gniezno, Krobia, as well as Poznań and the neighboring Czerwonak municipality. A special award went to Jarocin.
This is the thirteenth edition of the competition organized by the Poznań branch of the Society of Polish Town Pl anners (under the patronage of the Marshal of the Wielkopolska region). The level of this year's competition can be judged just as highly as last year's edition: the awarded realizations are of a considerable scale and - which is very important - not only improve the quality of the transformed spaces, but significantly affect their surroundings.
island crystallizes
The main prize went to Krobi, a town of four thousand people near Leszno. This is not the first recognition of this locality by the Poznan branch of TUP. Two years ago, the Society awarded Krobi a distinction for therevitalization of the old gasworks. This time the first prize went to the comprehensive revitalization of Kasztelańska Island by various individuals and designers (full list: here).
The jury found that:
The revitalized island is a crystallizing element of the city center between the market, St. Nicholas Church, John Paul's Park and the area of the school and its sports complex.
The awarded activities included the restoration of the building on the foundations of the former castle-castle, as well as the development of the surrounding area, including the reconstruction of the causeway and the implementation of a playground. The court enumerates the other elements in its opinion:
The character of the revitalized space is given by the reconstructed cubic objects, the arrangement of green areas around the buildings and moat, piers and canopies, the realization of a water cascade and terrain stairs, as well as small architecture and lighting of the entire establishment. Thoughtful functions given to the awarded space activate the community of the city and municipality, have an educational and integrative character, and at the same time create a local tourist attraction.
The competition "Best Developed Public Space in Greater Poland" - edition 2023 - 1st prize - revitalization of Kasztelańska Island in Krobi - genius loci; a multi-phase and multi-person project
Source: Society of Polish Town Planners o./Poznań, www.tup.poznan.pl
footbridge with tower
In second place - ex aequo - were the pedestrian and bicycle footbridge and the park. The footbridge with a viewing tower with a dynamic form, designed by the Atelier Paweł Byrski studio, was built over the Warta River in Owińskach (Czerwonak municipality), a village north of Poznań, right on its border(we described it in detail last summer).
The competition "Best Developed Public Space in Greater Poland" - edition 2023 - 2nd prize (equivalent), Czerwonak municipality, city of Poznań; pedestrian and bicycle footbridge on the Warta River in Owińskach, designed by Atelier Paweł Byrski
photo: Jakub Głaz
The footbridge was built where a ferry crossing used to operate between Owińska and Radojewo (northern outskirts of Poznań) and the municipality of Suchy Las. It therefore renews a very convenient connection for tourist traffic and ties together the Warta Cycle Route, the Cistercian Cycle Route and the water route of the Wielkopolska Loop. It also makes life easier for those who treat the bicycle as a means of daily transportation. Unfortunately, the construction of the footbridge was not accompanied by investments in improving the quality of the surrounding bicycle routes. So the full functionality of the new crossing will have to wait a little longer. The jury's justification reads:
The footbridge on the Warta River was appreciated as a new attractive element of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, which is characterized by a modern iconic image, building the identity of the place, high potential for building social integration and promoting the tourist and natural-landscape values of the region.
The competition "The best developed public space in Wielkopolska" - edition 2023 - 2nd prize (equivalent), Czerwonak municipality, city of Poznań; pedestrian and bicycle footbridge on the Warta River in Owińskach, designed by Atelier Paweł Byrski
Source: Society of Polish Town Planners o./Poznań, www.tup.poznan.pl
Jelonek after development
The second equally awarded realization is located in the heart of Gniezno. It is the renovated Piast Park "along with the development of the entire shore of Lake Jelonek." The park between the historic center of the city and the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State and the academic complex was redesigned by the Poznań-based 1050 ARCHITECTURE PRACOWNIA Mariusz Więcek studio. The office has other successful realizations in the public space of Poznan: a park in the old riverbed of the Warta River and an extensive green square in front of the Stary Browar shopping center. In Gniezno, the competition court noted the following.
The basic recreational and pedestrian function is complemented by subtly integrated cultural, educational and technical elements. An equivalent value of the assumption is the landscape-environmental value, which manifests itself in numerous plantings of diversified vegetation, the designation of "natural" zones and the limitation of hardened surfaces to the necessary minimum.
Contest "Best Developed Public Space in Greater Poland"-Edition 2023 - 2nd prize (equivalent) - Gniezno, revitalization of Piast Park along with development of the entire shore of Lake Jelonek; design 1050 ARCHITECTURE PRACOWNIA Mariusz Więcek
Source: Society of Polish Town Planners o./Poznań, www.tup.poznan.pl
ideological coherence
This year, the Poznań TUP also decided to award a "special prize" to the municipality of Jarocin, for its comprehensive and consistent efforts to create high-quality public spaces. Consistency in appreciating Jarocin was also shown by the competition court, as two years ago it awarded this city the Grand Prix for the revaluation of Radolinski Park with the amphitheater.
The competition "The best developed public space in Wielkopolska" - edition 2023 - a special award for the municipality of Jarocin for comprehensive and consistent efforts to create high-quality public spaces
Source: Society of Polish Town Planners o./Poznań, www.tup.poznan.pl
This year's verdict declares that, among other things:
The Municipality of Jarocin has for many years made effective and comprehensive efforts for the deep, modern and qualitative transformation of public spaces. [...] The formulated program is characterized by setting ambitious far-reaching goals, as well as ideological and formal consistency. Conceptual and implementation work is carried out with the use of thoughtful strategic documents and in-depth analysis, as well as openness to good practices and international experience.
The award ceremony will be held on February 1 this year during the XVI Urbanist Day at the Budma trade fair in Poznań.
