Dzielnia: The Square of Culture in Nowy Sącz

The creation of a space that diverges from traditional typologies, while supporting local identity and innovation, serves as a catalyst for the city’s social and economic revitalization. The project addresses depopulation by fostering community engagement, particularly among young people, celebrating the city's unique urban greenery. By revitalizing a recognizable location, Dzielnia bridges the city's past and future, making a place where architecture and nature intertwine through experimentation and play, becoming a manifesto of hybridity and flexibility in contemporary times.

The chosen project site, Stara Sandecja, has remained underutilized despite its crucial location within Nowy Sącz’s urban structure. Along with creating a hybrid public building on the site itself, the revitalization of the surrounding area is proposed by preserving and modernizing the existing retail arcade, designing the residential quarters, relocating and enriching the urban market, expanding the adjacent school area and finally linking the development with inviting walkable areas. The Dzielnia building is designed in a courtyard typology with an inner garden accessible through passages located in each functional wing. The chosen form draws inspiration from the city's spatial typologies as well as beloved spots like the Main Square and the Park which offer both cultural and recreational experiences. The proposed hybrid space incorporates functional elements identified during research, site visits, and discussions with residents: a mediatheque, multifunctional performance space, workshop area, music rooms, gym, co-working space, market, and urban garden. A crucial aspect is creating a space that will not only be loved by residents but also become an important location on Nowy Sącz’s map for young people who, lacking cultural, developmental, and recreational options, lose their sense of belonging or even seek to move away. The project redefines the term “dzielnia” (district), used by youth to describe an area where friends gather. The goal is to provide young people with an outdoor and indoor space where they can spend the entire day meeting others and discovering themselves. Embracing an uncertain yet promising future, Dzielnia restores a recognizable place on the city’s map, creating a destination of greenery, learning, experimentation, and play.