A shortfall. That's how one can describe the plans to build the Portowo estate on the Warta River in Poznan. The investment, announced more than 10 years ago, will not start with a river port and associated higher-standard apartments. The first fire will be a part of the estate with a rather typical form and layout. APA Wojciechowski Architekci studio is responsible for the project.
This was to be one of the first steps bringing the urban fabric of Poznan closer to the river. In 2011, SwedeCenter (today: Vastint Poland) presented ambitious plans to develop land in the post-industrial Starołęka district in the south of the city for residential purposes. The site in question was the 15 hectares sloping down towards the Warta River after the Pollena Lechia cosmetics factory and the river shipyard along with the port (view on Google map: here). Visualizations presented at the time showed not only attractive architecture, but also a vibrant riverbank: boulevards, a port converted into a marina, bridges and a footbridge leading to the western bank of the Warta River. It was to be a neighborhood that surpassed the quality of typical developer developments. The video and information presenting these intentions can still be viewed today on the long-unupdated website dedicated to the development: www.portowo.pl.
For years, construction could not get off the ground. First the investor complained about the clerical tardiness related to the issuance of development conditions, and later, when the latter were ready, they were protested by the owners of the neighboring land, including - the Stomil factory still conducting production. Only now has Vastint received a building permit for Portowo - based on the development conditions, as work on the site plan is still in progress (as of 2018). In the coming months, construction of the first stage of the development is expected to start - however, it is located further away from the river and closer to the Starołęka traffic circle - an important car and streetcar transport hub. Other areas - located further south and along the Warta River - are to be developed later.
Portowo housing estate, Poznań, visualization, bird's eye view, design by APA Wojciechowski Architekci
right, bottom: Starołęka traffic circle; top: Warta River, the first stage of the investment is a triangular quarter with a detailed form of development visible in the middle
(Visualization oriented to the west).
© Vastint Polska
gray, white, dark kitchens
The first stage comprises eleven buildings with 387 apartments. Ultimately, the entire development is to include 1,800 units in 47 houses measuring from 3 to 8 stories. There will be units ranging from studios to five-room apartments (from 30 to 135 sqm), each with at least one deep balcony. The designers and developer are not showing floor plans of the units at this time. The apartments, finished turnkey, will be available for purchase only after the project is completed in 2024. Will their standard differ from the unfortunate solutions typical of today's construction industry? Among other things, we asked about a separable kitchen with a window and windows in bathrooms. Unfortunately, these will not be common.
Kitchens are open to spacious living rooms, some of which have access to an independent window. There are also bathrooms with a window," answers Mikołaj Wojciechowski, a representative of APA Wojciechowski Architekci studio, on behalf of the designers.
The architecture shown in the current visualizations is simple and quite massive. What is the key to shaping the facade forms? Wojciechowski explains:
The dominant color of the facade is white with accents of natural colors in shades of gray and light terracotta (...). The elevations, which have a common bracket in the form of wood-colored veneered panels, are differentiated according to the nature of the segments. The perimeter ones on the Starołęcka Street side are distinguished by (...) gray plaster insulated with brick tiles in neutral beige. They form a background for the white cubes of the buildings on the south side, further contrasted by wooden windows. Everything is tied together with a brick high plinth, which emphasizes the natural slope towards the river.
L-sized greenery
Portowo estate, Poznań, visualization, inner courtyard of the first stage of the project, proj. APA Wojciechowski Architekci
© Vastint Polska
A spacious green cour tyard is planned between the buildings of the first stage . Vehicular traffic will run around the perimeter of the quarter. Greenery, by the way, is to be strongly present in the space of the entire Portowa, because, as the designers declare, the investment is subordinated primarily to the character of the waterfront and abstracts from the post-industrial character of the district. When asked about the percentage of green areas, however, the architects do not give details. Wojciechowski, however, reports that in the first stage:
Underground parking lots are located around the outline of the segments, which made it possible to achieve a large area inside the courtyard free of underground development. This makes it possible to locate tall, mature trees and intensive greenery. The ground layer on the garage slabs is large enough for tall greenery to be supplemented with lower trees and shrubs.
vaguely about the port and infrastructure
What principle has been subordinated to the shaping of the entire Port area? The area is to be open and mostly accessible to the public. Wojciechowski explains the architects' intention:
On the north side, the Portowo housing development is peripherally enclosed by longer, more massive buildings, which form a background for segments with a more compact body located on the south side. (...) The segments change character as they get closer to the river. The closer to the Warta River, the character becomes more intimate with view openings to the river and access to a semi-public square with services.
Unfortunately, it is not yet known what exactly the waterfront of the Warta River and the former shipyard with a harbor will look like:
The issues of how to arrange the space around the harbor basins will be the subject of consideration at later stages of the investment, Wojciechowski informs. Ewa Łydkowska of Vastint Polska adds: We are not planning to build bridge crossings or footbridges over the river. Portowo is one of many projects that are part of the Na Rzecz Warty strategy. (...)We know about plans to build two footbridges, but these are not projects included in the Portowo estate's scope of work."
Osiedle Portowo, Poznań, visualization, stage I of the project, proj. APA Wojciechowski Architekci
© Vastint Polska
The announcements regarding the construction of the necessary infrastructure: service facilities, buildings for integration, schools, kindergartens and nurseries are also not very thrilling.
Upon completion of all phases of the project, the development will have space for a kindergarten, doctors' offices, stores and multiple service outlets, as well as waterfront recreation areas. These issues will be clarified during further work on the project concept, Lydkowska declares.
When will this take place? No dates are being dropped. It remains to be hoped that things will gain more momentum. So far, Portovo, which was supposed to be the first swallow of the city's return to the river, has been distanced by other investments that have significantly revitalized the banks of the Warta River. The city has built several kilometers of the so-called Warta Highway for pedestrians and cyclists, city beaches and a park have been created in the buried old riverbed, as well as seasonal dining and entertainment venues. New residential buildings sprouted up in Chwaliszewo, Ostrów Tumski and Bielniki. The Polytechnic University has expanded its riverside campus, and the Gateway of Poznan heritage interpretation center has been built in Srodka .
Even in the post-industrial Starołęka, new enclaves of residential developments overlooking the Warta River are growing south of Portowa. Unfortunately, their distribution is haphazard and not very fucktional. Portowo, based on a comprehensive master plan, gives hope that at least part of Starołęka will be arranged in a thoughtful way.
