Krakowskie Podgórze is a place with a rich history connected with the clothing industry. There were garment factories on Nadwiślańska Street for decades, and today, in the same location, a concept of space dedicated to fashion in a completely new form is being created. A {tag:studenci} from the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology created the design of the Fashion Museum, combining the history of the place with a modern approach to the display of art. Its form draws inspiration from the spatial context and the surrounding landscape, creating a dynamic, open structure that fits into the fabric of the city.
cross sections
© Natalia Szczepanska
location, shaping the space
The museum's unique location on the banks of the Vistula River influenced not only the form of the building, but also the organization of its interiors. The exhibition spaces open up to the river, making it an integral part of the exhibition. The Vistula becomes a natural backdrop for the exhibits on display, adding context and emphasizing their unique character. This approach makes the museum not just a building, but a dynamic space where nature and art coexist, complementing each other.
Facade from the side of Cricoteka
© Natalia Szczepańska
ramps leading through the history of fashion
The museum's interiors have been designed in a way that allows for an organic and smooth transition between levels. Winding ramps permeate all floors, blurring the boundaries between floors and allowing visitors to view works of art from different perspectives. The spatial narrative was inspired by the Podgórze district - a neighborhood full of steep approaches, narrow streets and corners that surprise visitors with the views they discover along the way. The museum, like the city, invites you to discover its secrets step by step, gradually revealing the history of fashion in a modern arrangement of space.
front elevation
© Natalia Szczepanska
dialogue between fashion and architecture
The museum's design is not only an exhibition space, but also an expression of the dialogue between architecture and fashion. Both fields operate with form, structure and detail, and when they work together, true works of art are created. In this case, the architecture is not just a background for the garments on display - it becomes their complement, giving them a new dimension and context. Thanks to the dynamic organization of the space, visitors not only admire the exhibitions, but also participate in the process of experiencing fashion in a multi-sensory way.
visualization from Nadwiślańska Street
© Natalia Szczepanska
modern technologies in the museum space
The project involves the use of modern technologies to enrich the visitor experience. Interactive installations, mapping projections and digital reconstructions of historical collections allow for a deeper immersion into the world of fashion and its evolution over the centuries. It's a place that not only showcases the past, but also opens the door to the future of apparel design and innovation.
visualization from Salt Port Street
© Natalia Szczepanska
space alive and open to the city
The Podgórze Fashion Museum is not a closed institution, but an open space that interacts with its surroundings. Viewing terraces and public spaces encourage interaction, cultural events and educational meetings related to fashion and design. It is a place that lives together with the city and its residents, becoming part of the dynamic landscape of Krakow's Podgórze district.
showroom
© Natalia Szczepanska
Natalia Szczepanska's project is not just a museum, but a narrative space that tells the story of fashion and its relationship with the city through architecture. The combination of modern form with inspirations taken from the Podgórze landscape makes the building an integral part of the context in which it functions. It is a project that shows that fashion and architecture can coexist in harmony, creating a place that encourages the discovery of art in its most beautiful form.
exhibition
© Natalia Szczepanska
