Work has begun on the site at Plac Europejski in Warsaw to demolish the STIXX restaurant pavilion. This is not the actual construction work yet, but the first concrete stage in preparing the site for the 130-metre-high Chopin Tower.
Chopin Tower at the junction of Wronia and Grzybowska Streets
Chopin Tower is Ghelamco’s new office and retail skyscraper, which is to be built on the corner of Wronia and Grzybowska streets, in the south-eastern part of Plac Europejski. The building will be approximately 130 metres tall and comprise 28 storeys in the tower section, whilst a four-storey podium will rise at its base. Ghelamco plans to offer around 40,000 square metres of office space, whilst the lower levels will house retail outlets, restaurants and bars. Underground, there will be a four-level car park with around 312 parking spaces. PBPA Projekt, a practice led by architect Adam Wagner, is responsible for the design.
Ghelamco’s project has been in the pipeline for over a decade
The history of Chopin Tower began in 2011, when Ghelamco announced plans to build a skyscraper to complement Plac Europejski. Initially, a residential function was considered, but the project was later changed to an office development. In 2016, the developer obtained planning permission. Interestingly, earlier documents mentioned a height of up to 160 metres. The current version, however, stands at 130 metres. The new concept was unveiled at the MIPIM trade fair in Cannes in March 2023. The developer emphasised at the time that this was a working version, and therefore the visualisations presented should not be regarded as the tower’s final appearance.
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STIXX brings its ten-year history to a close
The first clear step in preparing the site for the skyscraper is the removal of STIXX Bar & Grill. The restaurant had been operating here since 2016, though the building itself was constructed much earlier as a brick structure that served as a printing works. Ghelamco made use of this relic of Wola’s industrial heritage and transformed it into a dining venue. STIXX very quickly became a favourite with local residents and office workers, offering a restaurant, bar, lounge and event space. Over the course of a decade, the venue hosted, amongst other things, business dinners, corporate events, concerts and private functions. The venue closed on 20 June 2026 following the expiry of its lease.
Major changes at Plac Europejski?
Chopin Tower will occupy part of the current square, including the area of the existing pond. Ghelamco has stated that it will relocate the pond to another site and increase the number of trees in the area. The documentation mentions at least 411 square metres of green roof space, 12 new trees, around 170 square metres of shrubs and around 220 metres of climbing plants, whilst rainwater is to be collected and used to water the greenery. The underground car park, covering an area of approximately 10,800 square metres, will in turn be connected to the infrastructure of the neighbouring The Bridge.
Chopin Tower at Plac Europejski
If Chopin Tower is built in accordance with the current plans, the 130-metre skyscraper will join the dense cluster of high-rise buildings in the area around Rondo Daszyńskiego and Plac Europejski. In the immediate vicinity are already the 220-metre-high Warsaw Spire, the 202-metre-high Unit, the 195-metre-high Skyliner and the 174-metre-high The Bridge. The demolition of STIXX therefore marks the next stage in the major transformation of this part of Wola. The brick post-industrial pavilion was first converted into a restaurant, and after a decade, a new skyscraper will take its place.
source: Ghelamco
visualisation: PBPA Projekt
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