In the very center of Bialystok, on the axis of the Branicki Palace, a walkway connecting Akademicka and Maria Sklodowska-Curie Streets may be built. There, since 1991, thanks to the efforts of veterans' organizations, stands the Monument to the Polish Armed Forces in the West by sculptor Jerzy Grygorczuk. Now the Bialystok-based organizations would like the place around the monument to gain more prominence - they approached students of the Faculty of Architecture at Bialystok University of Technology with a request to design a walkway.
As part of their semester's work, as many as 36 first-year architecture students developed concepts for developing the walkway.
When we were asked to design the Passage of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, it was obvious that the topic had to be handled by our young students," says Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Bialystok University of Technology Dr. Aleksander Asanowicz.
The design of the new arcade was presented on May 11, 2022 at Bialystok University of Technology
© Bialystok University of Technology
Out of the 36 works that were created, the staff of the Architecture Department, together with representatives of veterans' organizations in Bialystok, selected three designs by Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Laszczuk and Jolanta Wilczewska. The next stage, as in Flemish formula competitions, was for students to create a joint project. The work on the final concept was supervised by Dr. Wojciech Niebrzydowski and Dr. Piotr Lodzinski.
A red-and-white path leads to the monument
© Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk, Jolanta Wilczewska
new arcade in Bialystok
The result of the cooperation of the three students is the design of the walkway surrounding the monument. The monument itself, depicting an eagle symbolizing the struggle of Polish soldiers in the West, was placed by the students on a slightly higher pedestal, and in its vicinity they designed resting places with canopies. A red-and-white ribbon placed in the sidewalk leads to the monument. The whole concept is accented by led lighting in the evenings.
The canopy is designed from corten sheet metal
© Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk, Jolanta Wilczewska
Currently the square is gray and not very noticeable, for this reason I wanted to create a design that would draw the attention of passersby. Its main element is a red and white ribbon. The national colors add solemnity to the concept. On the other hand, the designed canopy is meant to make it interesting and expressive," says co-author Magdalena Budziszewska.
The walkway is to connect Akademicka and Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie Streets
© Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk, Jolanta Wilczewska
white and red path
The young architects also focused on technical and material solutions, using, among other things, copper-brown corten sheeting. The walkway itself would be paved with red pavers and slabs of light-colored stone or concrete. All this so that the visible contrasts would catch the eye of passersby.
The walkway is to be located on the corner of the St. and Maria Skłodowska-Curie streets.
© Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk, Jolanta Wilczewska
The red-and-white ribbon creates a kind of path that invites you to enter the walkway and learn about the history symbolized by the existing monument. We wanted this concept to be very dynamic and lead us through this square and the history commemorated here," explains Jolanta Wilczewska of the design team.
Project presentation, from left: Jolanta Wilczewska, Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk
Photo: Pawel Jankowski
young designers
Students in the fourth semester were surprised that they would have the chance to design changes in the center of Bialystok so soon, and in addition, that they would have the opportunity to confront their visions with the evaluation of people who are very involved in the cultivation of the tradition of Polish arms.
I didn't expect to work on such a project in my second year of study. I recommend studying architecture, because it opens doors and eyes for every student," Jolanta adds.
Veterans' organizations hope that the project will be built by 2024
© Magdalena Budziszewska, Tomasz Łaszczuk, Jolanta Wilczewska
Changing the pedestal of the original monument would require the consent of the monument's author, sculptor Jerzy Grygorczuk, and the project itself may be used to implement the final reconstruction of the passage, or become the inspiration for the design that the city authorities will eventually accept.
Veterans' organizations in Bialystok, together with Colonel Bogdan Topor, chairman of the Board of the National Division of the Union of Former Soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in the West, are counting on the support of the city authorities and the realization of the project by 2024 - that's when the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino will be in May.
