Warsaw has selected the winner of the architectural and urban planning competition for the redevelopment of the complex at 100 Sobieskiego Street in Mokotów, commonly known as Szpiegowo. The design, prepared by the JSK Architekci practice, will enable the renovation of one of the capital’s most enigmatic sites. Once the project is complete, the derelict site will take on new functions. According to the city authorities, a total of around 180 council flats will be built in the existing and new buildings.
Szpiegowo in Warsaw – its history
The complex at 100 Sobieskiego Street was built in the late 1970s. For many years, it remained effectively beyond the control of the Warsaw authorities, being used without legal title first by the Soviet Union and later by the Russian Federation. It is from this period that the colloquial name ‘Szpiegowo’ originates. The site was heavily guarded and off-limits to residents, which fuelled numerous speculations about the activities taking place behind the fence. Following protracted disputes, the property was recovered in 2022, and in January 2025 it was officially handed over to the city. Only then did it become possible to begin preparations for the architectural competition.
The winning design by JSK Architekci
The competition focused on a concept for the transformation of the entire site. The proposal concerned the redevelopment of the main building, which is listed in the Municipal Register of Monuments, the construction of new buildings on the site of two single-storey service pavilions, and the landscaping of the entire plot. The proposal by the Warsaw-based practice JSK Architekci, prepared by a team comprising Mariusz Rutz, Zbigniew Pszczulny, Mikołaj Twardowski, Kinga Batte, Jakub Pieńkowski, Delfina Żółtowska, Michał Dezór and Kamil Kowalski. The designers received a prize of 100,000 zł gross and the opportunity to draw up the full design documentation. Second place went to the practice BOGUMIŁ KIDZIAK ARCHITEKCI, whilst honourable mentions were awarded to the teams from 22ARCHITEKCI and WXCA GROUP.
Szpiegowo as a functional housing estate
The competition jury assessed, above all, the number of council flats, the quality of the architecture, the functionality of the ground-floor commercial premises, user safety, high aesthetic standards, and the adaptation of the entire development to the needs of people with disabilities and other users requiring special facilities. The costs of construction and future maintenance, as well as the feasibility of obtaining planning permission efficiently, were also of significant importance. In the coming months, the city will begin negotiations with JSK Architekci regarding the preparation of the design documentation. The contract is expected to be signed by January 2027. It will then be possible to launch a tender for the construction works. Warsaw has secured over 132 million zlotys for the project.
Source:Warsaw City Hall
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