Office buildings and shopping malls, which just a few weeks ago were being prepared for demolition, are now being donated by their owners for use by people fleeing to Poland from the war in Ukraine. Such vacant buildings are a good alternative to dormitories in sports arenas and trade fair centers.
In recent years, more and more buildings that were built in the late 1990s and early 2000s are being earmarked for demolition. We are mainly talking about office buildings and shopping centers, whose functions are "wearing out" the fastest. Investors seeking to maximize profits want to replace them with new structures, without considering the environmental costs of such operations. A complete turnaround was brought about by the wave of migration associated with the arrival in Poland of people fleeing the Russian attack on Ukraine. The demand for accommodations - both ad hoc and made available for weeks or months at a time - has local governments, companies and individuals looking for any space that could be adapted for this purpose. Equipped with full sanitary facilities, finished and armed with the necessary utilities, the facilities that were in operation until recently seem to be a very good answer to this demand. Thanks to the cooperation of their owners and local governments, such ideas manage to be implemented.
ilmet
photo by Cezary P / wikimedia
We have written about the planned demolition of one of Warsaw's more recognizable office buildings of the 1990s many times. The building, which is now owned by Skanska, is to be replaced by a many times larger volume. In an internal architectural competition, the concept of the Danish Schmidt Hammer Lassen office proved the most convincing. However, there is no confirmation that the design, more than a decade old, will be implemented. Skanska is currently focusing on the Studio development nearby. Demolition of Ilmet was scheduled to begin this year with the interiors recently vacated by the last tenants. Preparations are currently underway for the possible opening of the building to refugees,
warta tower
photo: cybular / wikimedia
Following the insurer's move to the new Warsaw Unit building at the Daszyńskiego Roundabout, the glass Warta Tower office building located near the Ochota train station has been vacated. Its owner, Globalworth, announced a major renovation. At the same time, the unique, post-modern interiors of the representative lobby were to be preserved - something that could not be done in the Atlas Tower (popularly known as ToiToi), located across the street. The capital's City Hall is in preliminary talks with the developer to make the building available for a refugee spot. However, there are no final decisions yet.
atrium
photo: Panek / wikimedia
The third of Warsaw's postmodern office buildings is the Atrium, located on Jana Pawla II Avenue. The entire complex consists of several parts. The one located at the intersection with Grzybowska Street has been earmarked for demolition- the first measurements have been conducted, and all those leasing space there have already moved out of the building. Strabag Real Estate, the owner of the building, immediately responded to the question about the availability of the premises posed by the city authorities and decided to make them available for the purpose of organizing places for people from Ukraine. As part of the preparation of the facility, Strabag has made pace in adapting the sanitary facilities to the needs of those who will find shelter there. The equipment is to be provided by the city.
mordor
photo: Panek / wikimedia
Preparations are underway in Warsaw's Mordor area for the construction of a housing development designed by BBGK, and implemented under the housing speculative law (the so-called Developer's Lex). It is to be built on land partially occupied today by office buildings. Demolition of the first of these has begun. Those that are still standing, Echo Investment has decided to make available to refugees. One of the four office buildings on Woloska Street will be adapted for this purpose. The same developer has also made available for the purposes of a collection and distribution point an abandoned Tesco hall in Kabaty, where it also plans to build a mixed-use district.
plaza
photo by Zygmunt Put / wikimedia
A Krakow icon of postmodernism, the Plaza shopping center, which had been abandoned for many months, was also being prepared for demolition. The building was prepared for this purpose and made available by Strabag Real Estate, which recently took over the entire site and plans to build office buildings there. The refugee center in the former shopping mall will start operating next Monday and will initially take 300 people under its roof. In addition to new toilets, the owner has arranged a laundry, drying room and kitchens at the site, as well as a dining area with a play area for children. The Cracow City Hall will be responsible for the operation of the center.
