The new PKO BP Rotunda in Warsaw - a competition project
The main design task was to give a new image to the iconic Rotunda while preserving its dimensions and its greatest aesthetic and structural qualities. For this reason, we retained the basic proportions and characteristic features of the Rotunda. Parts of the building were cut out to create a two-story public square. The resulting canopy reveals to passersby and bank customers the unique roof structure and serves as the entrance area to the various functions of the building. By increasing the depth and reducing the width of the columns around the building, the three-dimensionality of the frame was emphasized, highlighting the rhythm of all its elements.
Another important aspect was to emphasize the role of "meetings" that this object has been inadvertently fulfilling for years in the fabric of the city center. Therefore, we designed the square in front of the Rotunda as a meeting place and a starting point for further journeys. The square invites pedestrians from the Centrum Houses, the Wiech Passage, and al. Jerozolimskie with its color. Similarly, the stairs leading from the underground are covered with colored polyurethane resin, signaling the exit to the square even underground. We wanted to exhibit the icon that is the Rotunda. For this purpose, the uniform color of the square's pavement exposes the delicate white Rotunda building on a metropolitan scale. The strong color accent is to become an additional recognizable feature of the place.
Additionally, we located a new function called the Infobox. From the covered square, one can enter a designated and independent space to obtain information about cultural, sports, musical events, etc. in Warsaw. From here, a path leads to an exhibition-cultural space underground (temporary exhibitions, lectures, shows).
The Infobox is intended to serve both tourists and Warsaw residents so they can stay informed about "what's on" in their city. Information can be obtained in the form of a map, leaflet, or ROTUNDA mobile app.
