Warsaw is greening Bank Square with further changes that will make the site more resident and environmentally friendly. As part of the new modernisation phase, large areas of concrete paving will be removed and replaced with new trees and decorative plants. In addition, the worn-out pavements will be repaired, improving pedestrian comfort.
The changes to Bank Square are being implemented gradually, under the supervision of the City Roads Authority, without the need for a general reconstruction. Earlier stages of modernisation resulted in the construction of a cycle path, a trolley ramp and the planting of the first trees on both sides of the square. Now it is time to intensify the greening and improve the aesthetics. The first visible effect of the changes will be the renovation of the pavements. Then, nearly 30 new trees will be planted, including oaks, plane trees, ash trees, cherry trees and maple trees. The square space will be further enhanced with colourful flower compositions to replace the existing concrete surfaces.
The biggest changes await the western side of the square. The dilapidated concrete pavement will be replaced by elegant granite slabs, similar to those used on the rebuilt section of Marszałkowska Street. In addition, redundant concrete surfaces within the car park and along the cycleway will be removed to create new green spaces. The project was developed in consultation with the local community and in collaboration with the conservation officer. The surroundings of the Juliusz Słowacki monument will also undergo a complete metamorphosis. The bus stops will be merged into one, reclaiming space for new vegetation and a modern pavement layout. A particularly striking feature will be a flower bed planted with feathered cosmos, commonly known as ‘Warszawianka’. This plant, with its delicate white, pink and purple flowers, alludes to the city’s history as it was the first to bloom on the ruins of the destroyed capital. The concrete around the monument will be stripped and replaced with shrub plantings and dali beds, creating a more presentable and welcoming space.
The changes will also include the eastern part of the square, where there are tram stops, a metro station and the monument to President Stefan Starzyński. The concrete cube pavements will be replaced with granite ones, and the flowerbed under the “Blue Skyscraper” will be enlarged and enriched with new plantings. A real curiosity will be the introduction of a new orange variety of roses called ‘Prezydent Stefan Starzyński’, specially bred in Poland. The square next to the building at 4 Bankowy Square will also change its face. This area, already prepared for work by the Greenery Board, will be planted with bouquet hydrangeas, ornamental grasses and perennials.
The modernisation work has started with the renovation of the pavements and the stripping of the concrete surface, which is being carried out by the Road Repairs and Maintenance Department. Minor changes to the traffic organisation and temporary restrictions on the use of the car park are foreseen during the works. This will be followed by a specialist gardening company, selected through a tender process, which will plant new trees and shrubs and install landscaping. The first plantings on the west side of the square could appear as early as spring, and if weather conditions do not allow this, further work will take place in autumn to ensure the best possible growing conditions for the plants.
Bank Square is changing for the better – less concrete, more greenery and convenience for residents. Systematic modernisation work is making the space more aesthetically pleasing and functional, in line with modern trends in urban space design.
Source: Warsaw City Hall
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Places, Squares, Parks | Greenery | Warsaw | Metamorphosis | whiteMAD on Instagram
