We will rebuild! - local governments declare. Under public pressure, the process of replacing concrete and asphalt with greenery is finally starting. The authorities of Poznan have also yielded, rushing to add trees and greenery in ongoing investments. And an example shines a private investor, who a year ago partially paved the square in front of the Old Brewery.
Stary Browar, the iconic shopping center designed by Studio ADS in Poznań, was an investment that was finely detailed. However, whether due to a lack of ideas or a paucity of funds, the plaza in front of the new wing of the complex was treated negligently. In 2007, when the second part of the shopping center was put into operation, the space in front of the entrance from Ratajczaka Street was paved with uneven cobblestones and, for convenience, cut through with three narrow passages of evenly cut granite pavers. That's all. Customers leaving Stary Browar from the west side ended up in a sad space without trees or any small architecture. While the lack of a mature greenery might have been understandable, since part of the underground parking lot is located under the plaza, the abandonment of shrubs and benches found no justification.
trees and middle floor
In the following years, the park also belonging to Grazyna Kulczyk's Fortis company, which still owned the complex at the time, was revalued. The park's greenery was fenced off with a rather clumsy and unnecessary fence. Its authorship was attributed by the investor to the Tadao Ando studio, which at the time was developing a design for a modern art gallery. It was to be built underground in the park, but was not realized. Old Brewery along with the park was sold by Grażyna Kulczyk to an international company in 2015. After a few years, the new owner decided to revaluate the failed square. He entrusted the project to Poznan designers from 1050 Pracownia Architektury, who had to their credit, among other things, the development of the park in the Old Warta riverbed.
The investor gave the designers quite a lot of freedom. The "mandatory set" included a fountain and general guidelines to transform the square into a more friendly place. The project also included a section of the park adjacent to the square and Ratajczaka Street, so as to create a wide passage along the latter. To this end, the park's fence was moved away from the street, and more functionally located entrances were created.
Photo: © GARTE
The composition of the whole is thus divided into two areas. In the park part, a square with benches and alleys leading into the park and towards the square was created among the mature trees. On the other hand, the square above the underground parking lot isa dynamic composition of alleys, deep pots connected to seats and plots plantedwith decorative perennials and grasses expertly referred to as mid-story vegetation. The whole project was conceived so that from spring to autumn some of the plants are in bloom. These sections were realized using green roof technology. Dozens of trees were also planted: primarily ornamental apple trees and field maples.
The trees are still quite inconspicuous, but in a few years they will reach such sizes that they will provide more shade," announces Mariusz Więcek of 1050 Architecture Studio.
rhombuses and triangles
The surface of the alleys and plaza is an original composition of concrete triangular slabs. On the side of the building, the floor is the most, because it is a place intended, for example, for catering gardens. Granite also appears in places.
We used the even granite paving from the previous arrangement," says Więcek. He also appreciates that the investor agreed to use unusual triangular slabs, which had to be custom-made.
Photo: © GARTE
Where did the idea for triangles, rhomboids and bevels, which define not only the square's floor, but also the forms of small architecture, come from?
On the one hand, this layout is dictated by an analysis of the directions of the neighboring streets Ratajczaka and Niezłomnych. On the other hand, the sharp angles result from inspiration by the forms of the steel structure decorating the facade of this part of the Brewery," says Więcek.
Photo: © GARTE
In the central part of the square, in the lowering of the floor, there is a fountain with 14 jets, and on the side - from Kosciuszko Street - terraced seats conceived as an additional space for rest or meetings. The whole establishment is illuminated by low discreet lamps.
We used such a solution because we wanted to emphasize the intimate character of the square, differentiating it from the strongly lit Ratajczaka street," explains Więcek.
a blazed trail
The square was put into use last fall. Now, after almost a year of use, the transformation can be positively assessed. The place has come to life, you can see people resting on the concrete seats finished with wood, the lush greenery has enriched the public space of Ratajczaka Street, which will also undergo a positive transformation: the city will build a streetcar route there and calm traffic. Admittedly, you can hear residents say that there is still not enough greenery, but these are opinions that do not take into account the fact that the square was built over a concrete parking lot ceiling.
Meanwhile, after vociferous criticism of Poznań's latest investments, the city has taken to hastily re-greening the still unfinished Lazarski Square and the streetcar route to Naramowice. There are also plans to prune other city spaces. The experience of the Old Brewery may be very helpful in this process.
