Voting by residents for the best building, space or event nominated for the Architectural Award of the President of the City of Warsaw has begun. The jury selected eighteen finalists from among the submitted projects completed in 2020.
This is the seventh edition of Warsaw's most important architectural award. The ten-member jury, which included representatives and representatives of the city government, SARP and the Chamber of Architects, as well as TUP, selected candidates in six categories. In addition, the voting will determine the residents' award and the Grand Prix, the Award for Environmentally Friendly Solutions and the Award for Accessibility Solutions.
Let's remember that it's not only the appearance that counts. Pro-environmental solutions and accessibility of buildings and public spaces are very important to us. We check for architectural barriers. Because Warsaw is supposed to be for everyone, regardless of age, fitness or health.
Rafal Trzaskowski
best public building
Elementary school No. 399 with kindergarten in Kabaty, Maciej Siuda Pracownia
Photo by Piotr Krajewski
Selected in the 2017 architectural competition, the project is characterized by a simple form, the use of prefabrication, and carefully composed greenery. The entire building is dominated by a subdued color scheme inspired by the colors of the earth and the nearby Kabaty Forest. Part of the façade is decorated with a spatial composition by Monika Sosnowska - it is a pink railing from the balustrade, which "escapes" onto the wall by drawing essy-flores on it.
Elementary School 400 in Wilanów, Bujnowski Architects
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The school is located at the end of the Royal Axis in the Town of Wilanów. The two-story building was built on a square plan, with a large and green patio in the center, next to which a wood-finished multipurpose hall was located. A public playground was located on the ceiling of the parking lot.
Expansion ofschool No. 174 withintegrativebranchesin Wesola, xystudio
Photo by Piotr Krajewski
By changing the original location of the school, the architects managed to preserve the old trees. Well integrated into the landscape, the block takes advantage of the natural faults of the terrain and greenery. Most impressive is the facade with large glazing, which is framed by a huge wood frame. It is formed by a terrace and a canopy over it. This part of the building opens up to the most interesting views and the oldest trees.
best commercial building
Powiśle Power Plant, Authors: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The office and commercial complex was built on the site of a power plant that had been in operation since 1905. The new design managed to incorporate some of the historical elements, some were recreated, and the rest was complemented with additions referring to the industrial character and completely modern architecture. The reconstructed chimneys hide various installations, air intakes and exhausts. The entire project took 12 years to complete and was carried out in close cooperation with historic preservationists.
Offices at the Villa and Offices at the Brewhouse on the site of the Warsaw Breweries, JEMS Architekci
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The large mixed-use development complex was built on a 4.5-acre site occupied by breweries since 1846. The site's history has been linked to brewing since the mid-19th century. The new project has opened the site to the city and completed its development in accordance with the provisions of the local plan, enriching the offer of this part of Wola with a variety of functions. The tallest commercial building in the Warsaw Brewery is the Offices at the Willa, with a distinctive black facade. The office building at Warzelnia has eight stories and almost 35,000 sqm of space. It is distinguished by a white facade and honey-colored metal details.
Nobu Hotel, Authors: Medusa Group
Photo: Piotr Krajewski
The new building is an extension of the former Rialto Hotel. It stands on a corner triangular plot at the intersection of Wilcza and Koszykowa Streets. Its individual sections from the second to the sixth floor have been shifted in relation to each other and the axis of the corner.
best residential building
Building on Stalowa Street, Decorum Architekci / AZT Architekci
Photo by Piotr Krajewski
The building fills an empty square between Stalowa and Strzelecka Streets in Warsaw's Praga district. Before World War I, Pachulski and Domanski's bazaar operated in the area. The architecture of Stalowa 39 is modern and relates well to the neighboring buildings: with divisions on the facade, window sizes and clinker brick facades.
Apartamenty przy Warzelni, JEMS Architekci
photo by Piotr Krajewski
Apartamenty przy Warzelni is located in the central part of Browary Warszawskie - by the most important squares and streets of the whole complex. The character of the architecture is emphasized by a facade of movable panels - shutters. They were made of aluminum mesh in copper color. The facade changes depending on the preferences of the residents and the positioning of the shutters. They allow to control privacy in the apartments, as well as their sunlight level.
Multigenerational tenement, SAWA-TECH Design and Construction
Photo by Piotr Krajewski
The city rescued a historic tenement from 1915. In the process, it decided to implement an innovative housing cooperative project. The lower floors are provided for the elderly. A foster care facility operates on the top two floors. A public clubhouse has been set up on the first floor. Residents have a nurse's office at their disposal. The investment was preceded by consultations and design workshops led by the Bliss Foundation.
new life for buildings
St. Francis de Sales shelter, ArDJ
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The St. Francis de Sales shelter has been operating since 1897. It is one of the few senior care institutions in the heart of Warsaw. Thanks to the 2020 reconstruction, it was possible to improve accessibility to the premises, functionality, fire safety conditions and raise the standard of energy efficiency. The new part is distinguished by its vibrant color and large windows.
State Music SchoolComplex No. 1, Konior Studio
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The music school operates in a renovated, modernized and expanded building of a former orphanage for girls from 1901. The new horseshoe-shaped building stood deep in the lot at the rear of the old edifice and connects to it through a large glass atrium.
Two townhouses on Foksal, PROART Architectural and Conservation Studio
Photo: Marcin Czechowicz
Two historic townhouses at 13/15 Foksal Street have undergone renovation, modernization and have been expanded. The original houses were designed and built by Artur Otton Spitzbarth in 1895-1898. In the 1930s, one of the buildings (at No. 13) was bought by the "king of chocolate" - Jan Wedel. He decided to modernize the facade, stripping it of its decoration. As part of the latest modernization, they have been restored to a look reminiscent of the original design.
best public space
ŻoliborzLocal Center , GRW Planning & Architecture Grzegorz Wojciechowski
photo by Piotr Krajewski
The investment transformed and enriched the green public space between the PKP railway tracks and Grunwaldzki Square on the west side of Rydygiera Street. A building with the character of a garden pavilion stood there. The pavilion has a projection of a large letter "Y", large glazing and a second "skin" - an openwork screen made of metal. Each of its three parts has a different function: cultural-service, storage, children's playground. There is a clubhouse with a back room, which is supposed to live thanks to the activity of residents from the neighborhood.
Educational Pavilion Stone, eM4. Architecture Studio. Brataniec
Photo by Piotr Krajewski
The reinforced concrete building has an organic shape. The architects were inspired by a nearby glacial boulder. At ground level there is a large multi-purpose room, which can be arranged in any way. There is also an exhibition mezzanine. An educational path inspired by the Vistula shoals and a flower meadow have been created around the Stone.
Three subway stations in Wola:KsięciaJanusza, Młynów,Płocka, Metroprojekt Design Office, Kazimierski i Ryba Design Office, Archinauci
Photo: Piotr Krajewski
The city has built three new stations on the more than 5-kilometer-long section of the subway from Daszyńskiego Roundabout to Górczewska Street. The architects who designed them were inspired by the history of these places in Wola. Plocka station reminds us of the industrial heritage of the immediate area. The Młynów station reminds us that the Moczydło park with its swimming pools from the 1960s is close by. The Prince Janusz station symbolically refers to the history of the Ulrych family. They ran a horticultural farm in the vicinity of today's Wola Park center.
We wrote critically about the investment in the pages of the portal.
best architectural event
Atelier of Monika Sosnowska, Architecture Club
photo by Helene Binet
The investment escapes simple pigeonholing. The building can serve various functions: an apartment, a studio, a place to meet with clients. The facade on the garden side is formed by a wall of glass divided into regular modules. The side walls and ceiling are made of concrete, on which the organic drawing of plank formwork can be seen imprinted. The floor is polished concrete. The single-space interior is divided into two parts by a large and free-standing piece of oak furniture. Hidden in the space of this "box" are a toilet, a kitchen and a bookcase with shelves and drawers.
The best city in theworld. Warsaw in reconstruction 1944-1949, Grzegorz Piątek.
photo by Artur Wosz
A book about the enthusiasm, difficult decisions and problems that accompanied the reconstruction of Warsaw after the devastation of World War II. The author does not idealize the pre-1939 city. He stigmatizes its ills. He proves that the enthusiasm for reconstruction, fueled by propaganda, went hand in hand with a genuine love for Warsaw. It was shared by a generation of architects and urban planners who saw the mistakes of their predecessors and dreamed of a better city to live in. The drama of 1939 - 1945 gave them a chance to design a better city with monuments restored to life.
Guide to Good Architectural Practices. Factories of the Right Bank, Krzysztof Michalski, Piotr Stryczynski, Adam Lisiecki, Piotr Kilanowski
Warsaw's Praga district is famous not only for its old tenements and unique climate, but also for its historic factories. Which of them are still in operation? Which ones are no longer there or will soon disappear? How to renovate post-factory buildings, what to save and what to replace with new solutions? These questions are answered by the authors of "Guide to Good Architectural Practices. Factories of the Right Bank".
The winners of the 7th edition of the Architectural Award of the President of the City of Warsaw will be announced on May 25, 2021 during an online gala. Voting by residents continues until May 21 at https://www.nagroda-architektoniczna.pl
We write about the winners of the previous edition in a report on architekturaibiznes.pl
