This place in Warsaw has been unfinished for years. The new building fits perfectly into the historic square
Plac Politechniki 4 is a new apartment building designed by WXCA. The investment complements the historical development of Warsaw and shows how contemporary architecture can respect urban heritage.
- A historic place has gained a missing element
- A modern tenement house instead of an architectural manifesto
- Less demolition, more responsible design
- Architecture that does not dominate but organizes the city
An apartment building was built at Plac Politechniki, which does not try to overshadow the historic buildings. On the contrary, it complements it. The design of the WXCA studio shows that contemporary architecture can harmoniously fit into one of the most representative places in the capital, while at the same time focusing on a sustainable approach to design.
Today, Warsaw does not only need impressive skyscrapers and spectacular investments. Projects that organize the urban fabric and respect the history of the place are becoming more and more important. It is such a project Plac Politechniki 4 – an intimate apartment building that encloses the north-eastern corner of one of the most characteristic squares of Śródmieście.
A historic place has gained a missing element
The building was erected at the intersection of Nowowiejska and Śniadeckich streets, in a place belonging to the historic Stanisławowska Axis. The project prepared by the WXCA studio does not imitate historic tenement houses, but draws on their proportions, façade rhythm and urban scale.
Instead of an impressive contrast, the architects chose a solution that gives the impression that the building has always been part of this frontage.
A modern tenement house instead of an architectural manifesto
The project was based on an existing structure that was completely redesigned. The facades were changed, the shape was rearranged and the facility was adapted to modern housing standards.
An intimate apartment building was built with only nine apartments – one on each floor – and a commercial premises on the ground floor. This solution refers to the traditional model of a downtown tenement house, where the ground floor remains a part of urban life.
The architects used a calm palette of materials. Light mineral plaster is combined with aluminum joinery in a champagne shade, and the whole is complemented by carefully refined details. Thanks to this, the building does not compete with the historic surroundings, but discreetly complements them.
Less demolition, more responsible design
However, one of the most important elements of an investment is not its appearance, but the way it is implemented.
Instead of demolishing the existing building and constructing a new one from scratch, its structure was used. This approach allowed us to significantly reduce the amount of construction waste and reduce the consumption of new materials.
This is an example of an increasingly common strategy of adaptive use of existing facilities in European cities, which allows to reduce the carbon footprint of investments and at the same time maintain the continuity of urban development.
– Our goal was to create a contemporary building that naturally complements the historical structure of Politechnika Square, organizes an important part of Warsaw and shows that responsible work with the existing tissue can lead to durable, elegant and timeless architecture – emphasizes Szczepan Wroński, partner of the WXCA studio.
Architecture that does not dominate but organizes the city
The project is consistent with WXCA’s consistently developed approach to architecture created in a historical context.
Instead of spectacular forms, what counts is the quality of space, good proportions and respect for the surroundings. That is why Plac Politechniki 4 can be called “continuation architecture” – one that develops the existing fabric of the city, rather than replacing it.
At a time when many investments compete for attention with an eye-catching shape, the implementation at Plac Politechniki shows that equally important are projects whose greatest advantage is that they fit perfectly into the place where they were created.
Not every new investment has to attract attention with bold architecture. Plac Politechniki 4 shows that sometimes the greatest value is the skillful addition to the city. The new apartment building of the WXCA studio has closed the historic corner of one of the most recognizable squares in Warsaw.
