ARH. OSKAR GRABCZEWSKI

CENTRE OF ADMINISTRATION IN WIELKA WIES

Address: Community Square 1, 32-085 Szyce, Wielka Wies, Malopolska District, Poland

Investor: Community of Wielka Wies

Authors: OVO Grąbczewscy Architects: Barbara Grąbczewska, Oskar Grąbczewski

Project team: Agnieszka Krzysztonek, Magdalena Kaiser

General contractor: Skanska SA OBO / Krakow

Surface land: 16 076 m2

The total area of ​​buildings: 4 172 m2

Volume: 16 630 m3

First prize in the competition: 2010

Design & project supervision : 2010 – 2016

Construction: 2012 – 2016

Pictures: Tomasz Zakrzewski / archifolio

The idea behind the project was the creation of the Centre of Administration as the complex of buildings that are a symbolic gateway to Wielka Wies village. Moreover we wanted to create the first public space in the whole village – a space designed for residents, visitors, tourists, adults and children.

Centre of Administration in Wielka Wieś is the seat of the Mayor and the Municipal Council, the registry office, the library, the Municipal Department of Infrastructure and in the commercial part there is a bank, a pharmacy, a restaurant, pastry shop, flower shop and offices for rent.

The project was selected in a nationwide open competition. We proposed rhythmical composition consisting of the enclosed volumes and glazed or completely open spaces – halls and green spaces. All components are parallel to the ridge system of existing buildings in the neighborhood, they refer also to the shape of fields adjacent to the Centre area.

Diagonal formation of the entrance façade opens designed complex in the direction of the national road Cracow Olkusz 94 while respecting the historic buildings parallel to the road and preserving the existing trees, which are an important element of urban composition.

The resulting large entrance plaza is called Community Square.

It is to be a place of celebrations, events and daily recreation, and provide appropriate foreground for the buildings.

The triangular towers inspired by the emblem of the municipality, a fountain and street furniture are additional landscaping elements that make the square complete.

We proposed the square as a platform covered with a cobblestones, leaving a small green fields around the preserved old trees. Entrances to the building are highlighted by bands of black stones.

There are intimate courtyards created by the wings of stone buildings and entrance halls. Lit from the south, there are gardens full of greenery: shrubs, grasses, flowers. They will be a place of rest and tranquility for both the visitor center, as well as to employees and members of the Office and service building.

Covered porches provide a smooth transition from the outside to the inside, you can shelter under them from rain, snow or excessive sun.

Modern, simple design of the Centre is a clear spatial sign distinguishing its function and meaning, and the materials used – characteristic Jurrasic stone – crushed limestone and wood allow for a visual analogy to the historic ramparts, towers, castles – structures constituting the dominant or significant spatial accents in this area.

We decided on the selection of broken limestone facades of two reasons – first, in relation both to the surrounding, historic buildings and limestone rock formations so typical in this area, named Jura (because it was formed in Jurassic period), and secondly because of its excellent aesthetic qualities and performance (durability, natural self-cleaning) .

The stone facades are pierced by window openings of the same height, single or double width depending on the size and functional demands of the rooms. The construction of the windows, as well as glass porticoes is made from bleached timber.

Barbara Grąbczewska, Oskar Grąbczewski

Oskar Grąbczewski studied architecture in Technical University of Silesia in Gliwice 1988-1993. From 1993 till 1995 he was working by IBA Emscher Park in Dortmund, Duesseldorf and Berlin. From 1995 till 2002 he was working in AIR Jurkowscy Architekci in Katowice, as an architect responsible for numerous prize – awarded buildings.

In 2002, he started his own practice – OVO Grąbczewscy Architekci in Katowice.

OVO Grąbczewscy Architekci is an award winning architectural practice based in Katowice, Poland.

OVO aim is to provide the best solutions for the clients while creating individual architecture without any compromise as far as space and material quality is concerned.

OVO is working in all scales – from urban planning, large scale buildings to individual houses, interiors and furniture.

OVO Grąbczewscy Architekci won multiple national and international awards for excellence in architecture, including SARP (Association of Polish Architects) Prize of The Year 2006 for the best building in Poland, Polish Concrete of The Year 2006 Award for the best concrete building in Poland, EUROPE 40 UNDER 40 2009 Award for Europe ‘s Emerging Young Architects and Designers, III International Biennale for Young Architects LEONARDO 2009 Award Mention, Polish Committee of Sport Infrastructure Building of The Year Award 2011, Finalist for Life in Architecture 2002-2012 Award for The Best Buildings in Poland, Architectural Company of the Year 2014, Finalist for Life in Architecture 2015 Award for The Best Buildings in Poland, Nomination for SARP Prize of the Year 2016, Nomination for Mies van der Rohe Prize 2017

OVO was awarded and mentioned in more than 30 competitions.

Oskar Grąbczewski is competition judge, and university lecturer. He also writes feuilletons and articles for architectural magazines.