Fifth-year architecture students at the Wrocław University of Technology, in a class taught by Dr. Jacek Wiszniowski, tackled the semester task „Architecture in Public Space” involving the green revitalization of Wrocław's Nadodrze district. Six projects were created, which respond in different ways to the needs of both local communities and global challenges. The works were presented at an exhibition during the conference held in May this year, „Rethinking Green. Green and Blue Infrastructure in Historic Old Town Buildings”. As a result, its participants were able to compare the students' concepts with the projects implemented by the Wrocław City Greenery Board.
The quality of public spaces is significantly linked to the level of social, cultural and economic development. Its formation, due to its specificity, always entails numerous social implications. Due to the neglect and degradation of public spaces in Poland, there is an even greater need to prepare architects and architects to design such places consciously and sensitively. The topics developed by fifth-year students concerned the green revitalization of Nadodrze, a district of Wrocław where there is still much to be done. Issues of green revitalization were considered in terms of raising the quality of public space and adapting the urban environment to climate change. The same issues were the main theme of the conference," says project supervisor Dr. Jacek Wiszniowski.
the entire project team of fifth-year architecture students
© Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Technology
Within the framework of the developed streets of Nadodrze, the students were tasked with recognizing the places important for building a neighborhood community and identifying the basic problems of the given spaces. Based on their conclusions, they developed the solutions presented below.
Green Pomorska
designed by Dominika Bednarek, Aleksandra Tarnowska
In the project for the revitalization of Pomorska Street, in the section along the delicatessen and Sybiraków square, the authors focused on the introduction of greenery, in order to improve the aesthetic value of the space and the safety and comfort of users. Among other things, the „Green Pomerania” concept calls for the introduction of green belts separating sidewalks from roadways and greened streetcar tracks. Such pavements heat up more slowly, so they will have an impact on mitigating the urban heat island effect. In addition, the change of pavement under the tracks, will help reduce street noise, thereby increasing the comfort not only of pedestrians, but most importantly of residents of nearby buildings.
Selected project boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
Jedności for Everyone
proj.: Marcin Blażejewski, Jonasz Krzemiński
The authors of the „Jedności Każdydemu” concept focused on shaping the space of Jedności Narodowej Street in the most pedestrian-friendly way possible. To achieve this, they proposed flower pots that enclose the road and color separation of traffic zones by painting the pavement. In addition to colors, the meeting zones are also delineated by mobile urban furniture. The vision of the project is based on temporary measures that are easy to implement and do not generate high costs. With their help, it is possible to prototype changes and, if necessary, easily return to the original state — if users are not satisfied with the changes.
Selected project boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
Jedności Street of Joy
designer: Emilia Chmielewska, Anita Janicka
Also the second team faced the area of Jedności Narodowej Street, trying to create a kind of meeting forum. The authors focused on activities that residents could perform in this space. They proposed such activities as:
- "watching - reminiscing" - thanks to transparent boards with views of the street from 100 years ago, allowing comparison of the current and historical image of Jedności Narodowej Street,
- "sitting down - talking" - through the introduction of gardens, with mobile urban furniture, providing a quiet place for conversation;
- "flower on top of that" - planting and caring for potted flowers along the street, in pots by buildings, in baskets hung on lamp posts, on window sills, watered by residents with collected rainwater.
Selected project boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
Dancing in the rain
proj.: Aleksandra Godycka, Daria Krzosek, Julia Przygoda
The goal of the concept developed for Trzebnicka Street, was to revitalize the space, both in terms of socio-cultural life and the natural environment. As a method, the authors chose to introduce blue-green infrastructure. Thanks to the phenomena of shading and water evaporation, the ambient temperature is lowered, and the presence of plants improves air quality. In the project they introduced a variety of solutions — rain gardens and shallow retention basins in conjunction with greenery. The students also envisioned urban watering holes, water curtains and foggers to help users cool off on hot days.
Selected project boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
What's good for the residents of Chrobry
proj.: Wioletta Dębicka, Elżbieta Krzywonos
The last space developed by male and female students was Boleslaw Chrobry Street. For the two design teams, the basic idea behind the changes to this area was to create a safe, accessible and environmentally friendly place.
The authors of the project „What's good for the residents of Chrobry” focused on organizing the street space, with a clear definition of the boundaries of individual functional zones. This zoning is aimed at providing a safe living space, free of cars. The guiding elements of the concept are integration spaces, bicycle paths and isolating green belts.
Selected design boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
goGREENart
proj.: Żaneta Przybylska, Magdalena Kulińska
The last concept sets as an additional goal the promotion of local handicrafts. The authors were inspired by an existing art gallery in the area and local artists involved in various types of handicrafts. The concept is to introduce various art exhibitions and installations into the space of Chrobry Street.
Selected project boards: board 1, board 2, board 3
All projects were presented at the exhibition accompanying the scientific conference (May 18-19, 2023) „Rethinking Green. Green and Blue Infrastructure in Historic Old Town Buildings”, co-organized by three Wrocław universities: Wrocław University of Technology, Wrocław University of Life Sciences and Wrocław University. As part of the partnership, the event was supported by the Wrocław City Greenery Board and the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław.
The conference served to confront the views of representatives of various scientific disciplines and professional circles on the situation of greenery and water in intensively developed historic urban areas, generally subject to conservation protection. Reflection was given to residential and service districts of old towns and cities, as well as suburbs developed in the 19th and early 20th centuries, banks of rivers flowing through city centers or areas connected with railroad routes.
