Location: Kraków
Phase: concept design
Date of design: 2009
Net area: 10000m2

Authors: Dariusz Grobelny, Sebastian Machaj, Kinga Raczak and Jakub Wagner

The project activities are aimed to create order in the composition of the interior through the subordination of it to the main elements of space, and emphasizing the existing compositional values. The newly introduced elements are a clear continuity of the structure of the interior.

Pavement

– Standardization, creation of a homogenous space in terms of frontage;

– Reminiscence of a parlour, creating a mosaic which would be associated with the main space – The Parlour. The used pattern is a reminiscent of a pavement we can see in parlours of palaces and churches. The style of the floor enters in a dialogue with the old town hall;

– A new dimension. Obtaining an additional, third dimension, an optical illusion that – received in proper perspective – allows us to see a new dimension and the quality of the interior;

– Local materials. The square enters in the context of the surroundings, with the use of the materials occurring in Krakow: granite, basalt, limestone. Some of the cobblestones used in construction will be materials from the demolition of the old pavement.

The introduced green space consists of three tree rows enhancing the interior of the square and the importance of the building of the Museum of Ethnography as a main compositional object on the square. The street furniture highlights the main foundations of the composition of the square. Oblong benches are located parallelly to the elevations and tree rows. Fountain connected to the existing sculpture is the closure of the traffic route of Mostowa street. A rhomboidal bench is a sculptural element of the square space. It is assumed that all forms of the street furniture will be elements simple in their expression, not competing with the historical forms, yet at the same time giving the square a contemporary expression. The fountain was designed so that in the winter it will be a homogeneous part of the pavement.

Illumination

– Illumination of the City Hall and the Church of Corpus Christi highlights two main dominant features of this space;

– Lamps in the pavement of the square create a subtle foreground for the illumination of the former town hall, highlight the pavement layout and add a contemporary dimension to the square through freeform compositions;

– Historical lamps along three elevations of the square – highlighting the layout of the interior and the character of The Parlour.

Communication

The main idea is giving the priority to the pedestrian traffic. Therefore, the vehicular traffic was limited on the extension of Bożego Ciała street. The delimited communication route at this space is aimed to serve the inhabitants and support the services located in the ground floor of the surrounding tenement houses. The access road from the north has a similar character. The traffic lane in those places was laid with a low curb and architectural elements – benches, posts.

The traffic lane from the south side will be preserved along with the introduced parking spaces along it. In the lane the existing tracks have been reconstructed to allow parking the historical tram in this place.