In Opole, right next to the historic medieval Piast Tower (remnants of the defunct Piast Castle) and next to a modernist building from the 1930s, also listed in the register of monuments, now housing the Opole Provincial Office, a new building will stand - a one-story glass pavilion covered with a green roof. The controversial idea was negatively assessed by the Opole branch of SARP.
The annex, located between the existing buildings, at the western elevation of the office building, on the side of the Opole amphitheater, will house a waiting room for foreigners and stations for filling out documents. The pavilion will be implemented as part of the "Friendly Office" project. While the idea of creating accessible, comfortable and friendly spaces in offices does not raise any objections, what is puzzling is the procedure for selecting the concept and the interference in the existing fabric. Especially in the case of a building that will stand in such an important place for the city.
The 
project for the expansion of the Opole Provincial Office for the establishment of a center for service to foreigners
© Opole Provincial Office in Opole
Both the site and the building of the provincial office are listed in the register of monuments, so the whole process took place under the supervision of a conservator. In fact, I can even say that it was the conservator's idea, as initially there was only talk of a canopy in front of the entrance. However, in the course of discussions, the investor said that it would be worthwhile to build up the space, so that regardless of the weather and during an outbreak, it would provide convenient waiting conditions and a kind of buffer zone. So the only solution was to build up the canopy with glass walls, so as not to obscure the historic space. The exposure of this extension is southwest, in the morning hours the sun should not be annoying there, in the afternoon there will be the possibility of using air conditioning," explains to Gazeta Wyborcza Opole architect Agnieszka Cena-Soroko of the Lower Silesian Agency for Energy and Environment, the Wroclaw-based company responsible for the project.
The 
The pavilion will stand at the western elevation of the office building
© Opole Provincial Office in Opole
Analyzing the project, the Opole Provincial Conservator of Monuments (OWKZ) assessed the architectural form of the new building, its impact on the architectural values of the historic office building and the degree of interference with the historic substance of the office. In the end, the body of the pavilion with a glazed form and an independent structure unrelated to the historic building was agreed upon. Thus, the impact on the historic building was minimized," says Elżbieta Molak, Opole Regional Historic Preservation Officer.
The 
The pavilion will stand between historic buildings
© Opole Provincial Office in Opole
Although, as the provincial conservator of monuments convinces, the independent body of the glass pavilion made in a steel structure will be neutral and, thanks to the glazing, will not obscure the historic façade of the office, according to members of the Opole branch of SARP, the surroundings are too valuable to introduce any new development into them. However, the project has received permission for implementation, it remains to wait for the results.
