In the ever-evolving landscape of Warsaw’s hyper-centre, marked by the growth of corporate architectures post-communism, the public space has remained relatively stagnant. Dominated by monumental scale and socialist forms, it is only in recent times that new public investments are injecting life into the city center. TARAS Skatepark, a project conceived by architects Marcin Kwietowicz and Michal Sikorski, seeks to bridge the gap between the stone-clad public spaces and the distant glass skyline, offering a unique interface.
Activating Public Amenities
Innovative Design Approach:
Dubbed as a “horizontal skyscraper,” TARAS Skatepark stands as a wooden structure integrating public amenities. Positioned as a reaction to the existing urban context, the project unfolds as a dialogue with the surrounding skyline. Utilizing wood as its primary material, the design weaves itself into the city’s fabric, challenging the conventional norms of public space.
Warsaw’s Participatory Budgeting Program
Revitalizing Neglected Spaces:
The “TARAS” urban deck is a testament to the success of Warsaw’s participatory budgeting program. Transforming a neglected and misused corner of a park, the project breathes new life into a pre-existing pavilion. Simultaneously, it acts as a temporary boundary for the construction site of the new museum of modern art, redefining the park’s dynamics.
Geometry, Color, and Scale Integration
Harmonizing with Corporate Context:
The elongated rectangular greyish wooden decking, in its geometry, color, and scale, harmonizes with the adjacent office buildings. Seamlessly blending into the corporate urban context, TARAS Skatepark adds public functions to the surroundings. Positioned near the Soviet-style Palace of Culture and Science, the platform resembles a large wooden deck (80x20m), offering a minimalistic, organized public space suspended above the city’s hustle and bustle.
In the heart of Warsaw, TARAS Skatepark emerges as a symbol of urban transformation, breathing vitality into neglected spaces and challenging the conventional perception of public realms.
