The Warsaw palm tree at the De Gaulle Roundabout will be surrounded by plants rather than concrete. The City Roads Authority has just announced a tender to remove some of the hard surfaces from the central island in the middle of the junction. In their place, thousands of flowers and perennials will be planted to create a landscape inspired by a tropical archipelago.
Flowers will bloom at the De Gaulle Roundabout
Around 500 square metres of concrete will be removed from the central island of the roundabout. In its place, nearly 7,000 perennials and bulbous plants will be planted. The project involves creating small mounds planted with feather grass and verbena, designed to resemble islands scattered across the ocean. The space between them will be filled with sage and catmint.
There will be more and more greenery
The redevelopment of the de Gaulle Roundabout is part of a wider process of change taking place in Warsaw. Removing concrete from streets and squares helps mitigate the effects of urban heat, as plants retain rainwater, dampen noise and improve air quality. Similar initiatives have already been carried out in many parts of Śródmieście. Last year, Central Square was opened, and work is currently being completed on Złota and Zgoda Streets, where new greenery plays a huge role. At the De Gaulle Roundabout, special bays will be retained to allow temporary parking for municipal services and police vehicles.
The palm tree at the De Gaulle Roundabout – a symbol of Warsaw
The palm tree, designed by Joanna Rajkowska, was erected at the roundabout in 2002 as part of the ‘Greetings from Aleje Jerozolimskie’ project. The structure is made of synthetic and natural materials. The structure is approximately 15 metres tall, weather-resistant and mounted on a steel frame weighted down with precast concrete elements. The artist was inspired by the history of the former Jewish settlement of New Jerusalem, from which Aleje Jerozolimskie takes its name. In 2007, Rajkowska’s installation underwent a thorough refurbishment, during which the bark of the trunk and the leaves were replaced.
The roundabout will disappear, the palm tree will remain
However, the new greenery around the palm tree is only a temporary solution. The future of this site is linked to the extensive modernisation of the cross-city railway line and the construction of a new railway station. As part of the project, the roundabout is to be replaced by a conventional junction. Urban planning documents adopted in 2017 indicated that the current road layout is too extensive in relation to the surrounding buildings and hinders the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. The removal of the roundabout means the disappearance of the central island on which the palm tree stands today. However, the city authorities emphasise that the famous installation will remain in Warsaw.
Source: zdm.waw.pl
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