Warsaw’s “Mordor” goes down in history. This is one of the biggest changes in the capital

Not long ago, it was a symbol of daily traffic jams, glass office buildings and empty streets after 5 p.m. Today, Warsaw’s Służewiec is undergoing a spectacular metamorphosis. In a place that for years was associated only with work, apartments, parks, schools and service premises are being built. This is one of the largest urban reconstruction projects currently underway in the capital.

This is how the era of Warsaw’s “Mordor” ends

For years, the area around Domaniewska, Wołoska and Marynarska streets was a showcase for a growing business. In the 1990s, hundreds of thousands of square meters of office space were built here, which were to create a modern business center in Warsaw.

However, it quickly turned out that the district based almost exclusively on offices had its limitations. Daily traffic jams, lack of apartments, few services and deserted streets after work ended, Warsaw residents dubbed Służewiec “Mordor”.

Today this model is becoming a thing of the past. More and more older office buildings are giving way to residential development, and with it schools, green areas and public spaces appear. Urban planners are moving away from designing single-function districts towards places where you can comfortably live, work and spend your free time.

Former offices are turning into a fragment of a real city

One of the most visible examples of this transformation is Modern Mokotów – an investment carried out by Archicom according to a masterplan prepared by the BBGK Architekci studio. It is being built on the site of the former Empark Mokotów office complex, which for years was part of the Warsaw office district.

The project was based on the idea of ​​a 15-minute city. It assumes the creation of a district where most everyday matters can be dealt with within a short walk or bike ride. Next to the apartments, there will be service premises, recreational spaces, playgrounds and green areas.

As the authors of the concept from BBGK Architekci emphasize, the goal was to create a part of the city that would be alive throughout the day, and not only during office hours.

Concrete gives way to greenery

One of the biggest changes will be the complete transformation of the space between the buildings.

The parking lot, which occupied approximately three hectares of the former office complex, will be replaced with green courtyards, squares and meeting places for residents. A linear park with an area of ​​approximately 1.5 hectares will be created along Wołoska Street.

Cars will be placed in underground garages, and the recovered space will be used for pedestrians and greenery. New recreational areas will be available not only to the residents of the estate, but also to the entire neighborhood.

Not only apartments

The changes also include the development of social infrastructure. In the vicinity of the investment, a primary school for approximately 450 students was built, the construction of which was financed by the investor.

The project also includes the expansion of bicycle infrastructure, thousands of parking spaces for bicycles and convenient connections to public transport. Thanks to this, residents will be able to limit the use of cars during their daily commute.

Warsaw is changing the way we think about the city

The transformation of Służewiec is one of the most striking examples of changes taking place in contemporary cities. Increasingly, monofunctional business districts are giving way to buildings that combine housing, services, education, recreation and greenery.

Just a dozen or so years ago, the area around Domaniewska Street was a symbol of communication problems and failed spatial planning. Today, they are an example that even the most characteristic parts of the city can gain a completely new life.