Władysław Rudziński
Architect
Public Space under Poniatowski Bridge Flyover
The main purpose of this project was to reuse the leftover space under the historic monument - The Poniatowski Bridge flyover in Warsaw. This is a very important place for the city because it connects the city centre, recreation areas on the Wisla River waterfronts and the National Stadium area. Thus, it deserves to be a high quality urban public space. At the present moment, this area is used as an illegal scrapyard and a wild car parking place. It is really sad to see how this place is treated despite its huge potential to become one of the most attractive public spaces in Warsaw.
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ALL
DESIGNS
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The space was developed as an urban structure and a core of the historic monument bridge. Made from steel pipes, the light and almost floating structure stays in strong contrast to the heavy mass of the bridge. The three dimensional core simultaneously thickens and thins, creating small buildings, exhibition stands and public sitting areas. The idea was to relate the functions of the particular zones of this area to the existing surroundings. The new exhibition area and the theatre-like scene will serve the cultural purposes ss the extension of the National Museum located to the very east of the structure. Specially designed panels attenuate the noise and vibration from the flyover. On the west side, I planned a new street market to accommodate the existing bazaar. Equipped with new tables, trading spots, lighting and toilets, the market will be more friendly both for customers and vendors.
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I designed many places to sit. This is a very important aspect of the public spaces like this one. Benches, grass, stairs and stands - all these structures keep poeple in place enabling the interaction between them and create the opportunity for recreation and relaxation. A good amount of urban furniture naturally increases the quality of this public space. All the area is well illuminated with specially designed street lamps and build-in floor lamps which expose the arcs of the bridge in the nights. The floor is mostly made of colourful polyurethane. This two-dimensional floor rises up in some places creating three-dimensional structures serving as sitting benches, tables and information signs.
Project is supposed not to interfere with the nearby park vegetation. All the paths and connections are planned so that there is no need to move or cut any trees. I also designed a layered greenery extending from the highest level of the existing park trees, through the medium layer of shrubs down to the recreational grass. To complement the colourful structure of the square, I intoduced specific red shrubs Cornus sibrica and Physocarpus opulifolius. One has the red leaves while the other will sustain its colour even during the winter season.
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