Competition for the concept of the surrounding of the National Stadium in Warsaw - II prize !

The competition for the development of the 30-hectare area on the right bank of the river Vistula in Warsaw was directly linked with the design competition for the National Stadium- one of the biggest sport infrastructure investments in Poland to be finalized before the Euro 2012 Football Championships. The new National Stadium is to replace the one constructed in the 1950's, not in use for sport purposes since many years and hosting currently the largest marketplace in Europe.
The 30-hectare area, an object of the second competition, is neighbouring the National Stadium to the north-east. It is placed in the currently neglected part of Warsaw- Praga and hosts a bazaar and railroad tracks. It adjoins to the large park and residential buildings to be constructed in the future.

The main objective of the competition was to design, in scales 1:2000, 1:1000 and 1:500 a concept of the surrounding of the Stadium, that would be a revitalized urban area, functional and equally attractive for tourists and football fans during matches as for local inhabitants on weekdays when no events are taking place on the stadium. Creation of such a space required a definition of several investment plots and proposal for the timeline of their realization. It also required a definition of function and parameters of construction quotas. It equally required the planning of local communication network and the design public spaces of various types, that would enable a peaceful coexistence of car traffic and walkers. The project therefore required several competences such as urban-planning and architectural design, esthetical and functional approach as well as technical and marketing skills.
Layout
Continuity of two neighboring structures: urban one on the northern side and of landscaped park in the south.
Urban structure
Wide walking streets and canals put between Warsaw Fair buildings who's layout relates with the future urbanization of Praski Port pierces extend the urban geometry towards the Kamionkowski Lake. The railway barrier of the Średnicowa line is overcome thanks to new elevated Warsaw-Stadium station providing spatial connection between Port Praski urbanization and new Warsaw Fair zone ( possible realization after year 2012)..
Landscaped structure
The surroundings of the new National Stadium were planned as continuity of graphic composition of the near-by Skaryszewski Park dating from late 20ties providing a natural link between the old park and Vistula's waterfront. The new composition is arranged around three focal points: the Stadium, the Event Hall and a new sport venue placed outside of the project's limits.
Transgresion
As a bond between both structures, The Event Hall opens itself with a high, glazed facade towards the Fair zone, while remaining hidden in the ground and therefore invisible from the park side. The roof of the Event Hall becomes a south-sloped hill available for the public as recreation and open-air events space.

Strategic plan for the 31 ha area including new „StadionCity” with total gross floor area 400 000 sq m:
Congress hall (including 8 000 seats main hall)
5 star hotel, 400 rooms
Exhibition center
Concert hall (20 000 seats)
Offices, over 50 000 sq m
Shopping mall

Total plot area: 31 ha
Constructible plot area: 11 ha
Park, public spaces, water: 20 ha

Odnosząc się do istniejącego układu urbanistycznego, ciągłości powiślanych terenów zielonych rozdzielających Saską Kępę od Starej Pragi, oparliśmy kompozycję o istniejące struktury: miejską w północnej części terenu i parkową w części południowej. Struktura miejska kontynuowana jest przez przedłużenie geometrii Portu Praskiego w kierunku Jeziorka Kamionkowskiego - szerokie osie piesze i wodne, pomiędzy którymi rozmieściliśmy budynki nawiązujące do planowanej zabudowy pirsów Portu Praskiego. Przedpola stadionu to błonia w formie współczesnej interpretacji historycznej kompozycji parku obwodnicowego tworzące spójny z Parkiem Skaryszewskim zespół zieleni w bezpośrednim sąsiedztwie Wisły.

Kanon - arch. Grzegorz Chojnacki
Centrala - grupa projektowa
arch. Krzysztof Banaszewski
arch. Małgorzata Kuciewicz
arch. Krzysztof Rytel
arch. Jakub Szczęsny

cooperation:
Zygmunt Fit
Anna Maria Kowalska
Borys Lewandowski
Peter Richards