Junior High School, District Cultural Centre and Sports Complex
Konior Studio Tomasz Konior. Warsaw, Poland
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Name of work in English
Junior High School, District Cultural Centre and Sports Complex
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Name of work in original language
Gimnazjum, dzielnicowy osrodek kultury i zespol sportowy
Prize year
EUmies Awards 2007
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Work Location
Warsaw, Poland
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Studio
Konior Studio Tomasz Konior
EUmies Awards 2007 Nominees
Collaborators
Program
Mixed use - Cultural & Social
Completion
2005
Location: The building is immersed in the natural landscape and is a combination of nature and culture, education and sports. The site is located in Bialoleka, a northern district of Warsaw, and in the immediate vicinity of Vistula River bank. It borders on dense housing developments of 80s and 90s. Architecture: The starting point was to find the right relation of interiors to the surroundings and the coherence of the multiuse structure. Existing greenery was a pretext to create a characteristic undulating north facade. The 70metre brick wall has become a landmark and symbol of the development. The ribbonlike facade weaving between the trees is a major architectural accent of the building, making it blend into the surroundings. The whole is dominated by a central massive oval of the multifunctional aula, towering above the flat twostory structure. The building is divided spatially into two parts: northern part with the main entrance contains the generally accessible spaces, some of the didactic rooms, sports facilities and the cultural centre with the centralplaced oval theater hall. southern part with three blocks of classrooms and labs with internal recreation courtyards. Both parts of the building are connected by the doubleheight glazed forum. Brick and raw architectonic concrete determine the austere style of the whole. The coloured floors and colorful accents of the details, window blinds and furniture contrast with the gray background. The whole is supplemented by greenery surrounding the building, framed by the glass facades. Functional solutions: The building contains four functions, of which every single one could fill a separate object. They have been arranged in such a way, that within a common edifice they maintain some autonomy. Functional blocks open to a doubleheight glazed central forum, that serves superbly both for circulation purposes and as a scene of official occasions, meeting place, recreation. The visual axes, which are connections with the sports facilities and courtyards, create an optimal background for relaxation during school breaks and theatre performances' intervals.