The computer game design market in Poland is not only growing rapidly, but is also becoming one of the key sectors of the creative industries. A special place on this map is occupied by Wrocław - a city where globally recognized studios such as Techland and Ten Square operate, and where majors related to game development enjoy record popularity. At the same time, the educational infrastructure has not kept up with the interest. Out of this gap came the idea of the Center for Computer Game Design - CPGK, a project by Patrycja Ignatowicz of the Faculty of Architecture at Wroclaw University of Technology, which was created under the supervision ofDr. Maciej Stojak. It is a vision of a place that combines education, technological development, creativity and integration of the community of game enthusiasts.
Between education and fun. What does the CPGK offer?
The main ambition of the project was to create a space that simultaneously meets the needs of creative students and creates a meeting center for the entire gamedev community.
The building is planned to include:
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computer and programming rooms,
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character and narrative design studios,
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VR and motion capture studios,
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gaming and tournament zones,
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LaserTag and recreational space,
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a café conducive to work and integration.
It's a place where learning and fun intersect naturally, and the architecture encourages collaboration and creative experimentation.
architecture inspired by technology
The form of the building is not accidental. The main body was designed as a massive cuboid - the "nucleus of an atom," surrounded by smaller cubicles-"electrons." This is a metaphor for the basic unit of technology, but also a clear way of organizing functions.
The rooms requiring limited natural light were placed to the north and west, while the recreational ones were placed to the south and east. Thanks to bay windows and overhangs, the building gained lightness, despite its monumental form.
CPGK's aesthetic balances between brutalism and modernism: concrete, straight lines, expressive geometry. Minimalism and austerity emphasize the technological nature of the project.
Surroundings like a computer motherboard
The exterior space is an important part of the project. Its layout alludes to the construction of a processor:
the building functions as a "motherboard," and the alleys and paths resemble integrated circuits and wires connecting individual modules.
As a result, the whole area becomes an image metaphor for technology, but also a logically organized space for everyday use.
a place that inspires
The project was a response to a real need - the lack of a space where people involved in gamedev could develop their competencies in conditions resembling work in professional studios. Patrycja Ignatowicz created a vision of a facility that:
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combines educational and integrative functions,
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inspires users through architecture,
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prioritizes accessibility, collaboration and knowledge exchange,
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builds the identity of the local creative scene.
The Computer Games Design Center is a project that shows how architecture can support the development of a rapidly growing industry and become a platform for future game developers.
