Academy of Fine Arts

Generała Romualda Traugutta, Wroclaw, Poland

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Academy of Fine Arts

Generała Romualda Traugutta, Wroclaw, Poland

Firm

Type

Educational › University Other

YEAR

2012

SIZE

1,000,000 +

Creating proper
space for artists and art was the main issue of the design. The solution is an open
and accessible yet still practical space. Transparency of the building is the
key solution for creating space for design process, art exhibitions and contact
with urban trespassers.

The new complex is supposed to consist of three stages – three wings combined and
oriented towards existing garden. First stage of the development houses major
laboratories, workshops and workspaces. The garden with its old grown trees remains
the focal point of the development and the neighboring area. Together with the new
building they are meant to be an urban retreat for both users and guests and
attract trespassers to interact with artists and their work.
The building closes up the quarter along Traugutta
Street, therefore it is also a cornerstone for the Spoleczny Plaza
(Plac Społeczny) – an area that is being developed to become Wroclaw’s future bussines centre. At the same
time it closes and organizes space inside the Academy quarter, replacing and
expanding old open-air studios. Simple yet expressive body of the building
isolates the XIXth century quarter’s inner courtyard and the Academy’s garden.

The most exposed part of the building – the gallery, at the intersection of the Krasinskiego Street
and Traugutta Street, which
creates – through a glass facade – a unique opportunity of direct contact with
the inhabitants of Wroclaw
and thus shapes their views on contemporary art. The gallery is an internal,
separate exhibition space available from the pedestrian way and the inner
quarter parking lot. In the future the whole side facade of the building along Krasinskiego Street
will be equipped with a giant LED screen (invisible in daylight) for
interactive student projects to be displayed.

facades

The proposed glass facades provide maximum lighting for deep an high art studios.
They also allow artists to integrate interiors of the studios with the outside
green space and the city. The entire glass facade is covered with tiny 2mm white dots of screen-printed paste. The subtle pattern doesn't disturb the feeling of lightness and panoramic view at all. From the outside, the pattern gives the effect of a milky impression and tenderness. Additionally, the glass panels ensure effective acoustic insulation to block the street noise.

functional layout

The spatial arrangement of each floor is determined by the rhythm of five concrete structural
shafts that enclose all vertical circulation (three evacuation staircases and
three elevators shafts arranged alternately), main ventilation ducts and
toilets. Horizontal communication on each floor above ground is provided by
large corridors accessible both from elevators and staircases and galleries
associated to studios.
On the underground level there is a garage for several vehicles. The floor also
houses warehouse areas for sculpture, ceramics, design, and glass studios. The
ground floor is divided into two independent parts by a drive through gate and
entrance to underground parking. Part B is an independent gallery used to
display works of artists from the Academy. The entrance to this part is set under
a simple arcade on the corner of Traugutta and Krasinskiego streets. Main
entrance to the building leads from the north, through a spacious hall, and also
acts as a display area. The hall leads to the main corridor that runs through the
entire building adjacent to its west facade. Ground floor of 6.35m houses
studios filled with heavy machinery: kilns, furnaces, welders. Above one side
of the building there is a mezzanine suspended above ground- and each
2-storey-high floor. The mezzanine (second floor) consists of a corridor with
an inside to the lower floor and a row of small rooms: storages, supply rooms,
locker rooms, toilets etc. plus offices for the Academy staff (two per floor).
These rooms are deeper and, as mentioned above, hung over the gallery-corridor
of the lower floor. The following floors repeat the staggered arrangement of
the lower ones. The last sixth floor is partly obscured because of the nature
of the work executed in its studios and has a small cafeteria with an access to
a roof terrace with a view of Wroclaw.
The building also houses an auditorium for 170 people with suitable foyer.