Redesign of the ‘Rotunda’ building in Warsaw incorporates innovation and urban space in perfect harmony
Warsaw, Poland, 28th November 2013 – The winners of the 7th International ‘Changing the Face’ architectural competition were announced today by the competition organizers; DuPont, PKO Bank Polski, Association of Polish Architects and the Polish Branch of the Green Building Council. The objective of the contest was to design the renovation of one of the symbols of contemporary Warsaw, namely the Rotunda building taking into account strict guidelines including a design for an urban space for public cultural activities within the building itself.
The jury* unanimously agreed that the first place winner, whose design will be realized, is from the Gowin-Suita team of architects from Cracow, Poland. The winning design met all the criteria set in the contest, maintaining the form of the Rotunda building in a manner which is faithful to its original state while defining an architectural and urban space of the greatest possible functional use and aesthetic standards. PKO Bank Polska plans to start negotiations with the winners on the implementation of the design this year.
“The winning design will ensure the sustainability of the original design of the Rotunda, while creating a modern building for the PKO Bank Polska and the community”, said Włodzimierz Soboń, Strategic Program Manager at DuPont. “The use of innovative solutions, such as SentryGlas® and Corian® means that the building’s transparency will be securely restored, and the buildings “facade” will receive a new shine, while potentially leading to sustainable construction certificates,” continued Soboń.
The Rotunda is a cultural landmark in Warsaw and in recognition of this, PKO Bank Polski decided to allocate a part of the Rotunda building to urban or public use. During public consultations held in April and May this year, more than 10,000 completed questionnaires by Warsaw’s residents were submitted with suggestions for use of the urban space in the Rotunda. The results of the consultations were reflected in the report, which became a requirement for all contest participants. The contest aroused global interest on the part of architects throughout the world. 1040 teams from 79 countries were registered and 214 designs were received. 10 finalists were selected for the second stage.
More details on the winning design:
· The flooring of the square, with a regular grid of divisions reaching Widok street, exhibits the bank’s building;
· The whole is supplemented by cosy greenery from the side of Universal.
· The work presents an original solution to the lighting of the square by a “ceiling lighting” system by introducing a cosy scale of an urban interior, relating to the former height of the shelters in neighbouring passage Wiecha.
· The banking functions in the revitalized Rotunda building will be positioned on the ground floor and in the basement.
· A full “Urban Saloon” on the whole of the building’s first floor will hold the public space function. As a result, almost 500 m2 of space will arise enabling the ideas submitted by Warsaw’s residents during the public consultations to be implemented, including:o a multimedia information point about cultural events,
o a place to relax or meet,
o a free art gallery,
o and a cafeteria.
Full list of contest winners:
The jury awarded four main prizes, one special distinction and five equal distinctions:
1st PRIZE - USD 15,500
Authors: Bartłomiej Gowin, Krzysztof Siuta (Gowin-Siuta; Poland)
Associates: Ewa Gawron-Szpener Msc Eng. Arch. (visualization), Wiesław Bereza MSc. Eng. KB-Projekty Konstrukcyjne (structural consultations)
EQUAL 2nd PRIZE – USD 6,600
Author: Natalia Wilczak (Poland)
EQUAL 2nd PRIZE – USD 6,600
Authors: Rodrigo Garcia, Maciej Siuda, Gonzalo del Val (Spain – Poland)
3rd PRIZE – USD 5,800
Authors: Maciej Dobosz, Jolanta Major, Izabela Owczarek, Karolina Kalitan (Dobosz Architekci; Poland)
1st distinction – USD 5,800
Authors: Güntler Hatherl, Adrian Ukleja, Martin Sladek (Caramel Architekten zt gmbh; Austria)
Equal distinctions – USD 5,000
· White: Małgorzata Kosieradzka, Karin Hedlund, Andreas Laessker, Jeroen Mattijssen, Maria Norberg, Jajsa Sperling, Britta Wikholm, Marie Claude Dubois (Sweden)
· Joan Riera Jaume, Mireia Cabani Massip, Isabel Mestre Bauzà, Manel Garcia Ramis (Spain)
· Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane/architects: Dan Dorell, Lina Ghotmeh, Tsuyoshi Tane (France)
· Grzegorz Brykalski, Maria Brykalska-Karłowska, Stanisław Karłowski, Julia Karłowska (Poland)
· Pracownia Architektury Głowacki PAG: Tomasz Głowacki, Alicja Sawicka, Małgorzata Bieńkowska (Poland)
Jury*
The entries to the “CTF 2013” contest were evaluated by a Jury consisting of:
· Konrad Kucza-Kuczyński – architect, Warsaw Branch of the Association of Polish Architects (Oddział Warszawski, Stowarzyszenie Architektów Polskich - OW SARP) – Chairperson of the Contest Jury,
· Andrzej Bulanda – architect, OW SARP, Michał Łojewski – grafic designer, creator of the new corporate identity for PKO Bank Polski,
· Tomasz Marszałł – Marketing Director of PKO Bank Polski, Maciej Miłobędzki – architect, OW SARP,
· Marcin Mostafa – architect, OW SARP,
· Grzegorz Piątek – architect and architectural critic (at the sessions of the jury, the Head of the Department of Aesthetics of Public Areas of the Warsaw City Hall,
· Rafał Schurma – architect, Polish Green Building Council,
· Włodzimierz Soboń – Strategic Programmes Manager DuPont,
· Mateusz Świętorzecki – architect, OW SARP
The winning designs and the other works which reached the finals can be viewed at the Rotunda Building up to 31 December 2013, as well as at the official contest website: www.ChangingTheFace.com
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DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.
Media contact:
Włodek Soboń
+48 606 802 591
Wlodzimierz.Sobon @dupont.com
