The results of the architectural competition that will transform Swietokrzyski Park in Warsaw have been announced. The winning concept for the south-eastern corner was that of Studio Widoki Łukasz Stępnik and his team. The decision was announced by the competition jury.
The competition concerns the redesign of the corner of Świętokrzyski Park, which neighbours Świętokrzyska and Marszałkowska streets, where two metro lines intersect and from where it is easiest to get to the new seat of the Museum of Modern Art. The site, which will gain a new arrangement, previously served as a back-up site for the construction of the metro and then the MSN. There was also a pavilion there that acted as an information point for the construction of the second metro line.
In order to select the best concept, a competition was announced, the participants of which had to present an idea for a skilful connection between the corner of the park and the rest of the city. The corner is adjacent to the MSN and the TR Warszawa theatre, which is under construction. The concepts were to be characterised by increased green space and recreational infrastructure. A total of 8 conceptual designs were submitted.
The new well-developed space will serve residents and visitors to Warsaw as a place to meet, relax and simply enjoy their leisure time. The Management of the Palace of Culture and Science, which is responsible for the modernisation of Świętokrzyski Park, will soon start negotiating the terms of the contract with the winning studio. All this so that the design work can begin as soon as possible,” says Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of the City of Warsaw.
The members of the jury awarded a prize for first and second place and two distinctions. No prize was awarded for third place. The best concept was prepared by Studio Widoki Łukasz Stępnik. The designer was invited to negotiate under a sole-source contract.
The project stood out for the best solutions that incorporated the degraded street corner into the park space. In the opinion of the court, the proposed solutions show a good sense of knowledge of the habits of the existing users of the place, which is reflected in a very apt arrangement of recreational and sporting functions. The incorporation of elements of blue-green infrastructure into the layout of the area, above all infiltration and retention basins, improving the microclimatic conditions in this part of the park, was also highly appreciated,” reads the published communication.
The ambition of our proposed solutions is not to revolutionise its character, but to preserve its spirit, while putting it in formal and functional order. A number of spatial treatments are intended to, on the one hand, recreate the original compositional idea of the park, which in the eastern part enclosed the Defilad Square with a grandstand, and on the other hand, to raise its standard by introducing new functions both at the level of the programme and of nature. Despite the channelling of the park area, water is present in the square in the form of stagnant puddles even a few days after rainfall. Retaining it within the designed retention and infiltration fields will trigger natural natural processes, allowing the development of plant communities associated with periodically flooded and wetland habitats. The project is a closing and compositional complement to the classicist-style Swietokrzyski Park, as well as a natural counterpoint to the urban character of Central Square,” explain the project’s authors on their Instagram profile.
Second prize was awarded to RS Architektura Krajobrazu Dorota RUDAWA. Distinctions, on the other hand, went to: JAZ Architekci Sp. z o.o., and another to Pracownia Projektowa Karina Jędrak-Kościesza.
What are the next steps? In 2025, the city wants the complete design documentation to be in place. The project itself is planned for 2026. The Palace of Culture and Science Authority will be responsible for the implementation. The work will be preceded by archaeological research, and the project will also be consulted with the conservation officer. The realisation is expected to consume PLN 12 million.
design: Studio Widoki Łukasz Stępnik
design team: Łukasz Kowalski, Łukasz Stępnik, Dominika Bednarek ,Milena Trzcinska
source: Warsaw City Hall
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