Defilade Square is an official centre of Warsaw. This vast unbuilt space around The Palace of Culture and Science (example of social realism high rise), located in the middle of the square was built in 50’s as “gift” from Soviet Russia, serving for socialist society. Eventually for decades the area and the building were symbol of Soviet domination. After political transformation the building still remains the function, holding museums, theaters, youth sport centre, cinemas etc.. Move over, the building has become symbol of Warsaw. Defilade Square instead being a place for military defilades, is to be developed and become proper city centre. During over 20 years of debating about that space, the place was used as large market place, trading halls, parking, Fan Zone of UEFA 2012.
This vast, open and green space, instead built could be transform into grand Central Park. Place this could keep its identity and with new facilities and public spaces, could serve society and enhancing functionality of Palace of Culture and Science, bringing whole area into new era. In public debate, citizens of Warsaw could decide about program and functions in the park: urban sports, open market, fountains, playgrounds, events, culture, boulevards, squares. This grand scale complex with Palace of Culture and Science, Central Park and large scale streets, is framed by grand wall- 2km long, 30 m high – Mega Frame. The frame defined streets facades, holes the space of the park. Actually the wall is transparent and open – it’s in a form of grand colonnade, allowing access to the park in any place as well as crossing whole centre under roof, protected from rain or sun. The roof on top of colonnade is also 2km long green passage, Warsaw Highline, serving as great view point, place for Sunday walks, jogging or as tourist attraction.
Under the Highline suspended are new buildings, utilitarian building such as Art Museum and commercial such as: apartments over looking park, offices, shopping mall, cafes (partially helping to finance whole project). New buildings instead taking away from city the space of the park, are built around, above sidewalk, ground that belongs to the city. That solves mayor legislation problem of the area – claims of the plots by owners who lost their properties after WWII. Idea of Central Park and Mega Frame is not finish design, it’s starting point in debate how to build city centre of Warsaw, centre that respects city identity and quality, proving great and functional public space, bringing Warsaw to the future that Warsaw deserved for.
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