City Within a City – adaptation of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw – Master diploma

The thesis subject is a theoretical consideration of the mutual relations and interactions between Space (understood as architectural creation and in the broader context as the entire reality) and Man. Influence and it’s results. These considerations are conducted on a hypothetical adaptation of the Palace of Culture and Science on the city inside the building.

Space under consideration is Warsaw and its exact center (Parade square). This space had been chosen because of its creation and modification which takes place for centuries. The space, which was shaped by an infinite number of external factors and also, that interact with great force on the people inhabiting it. Interact on many levels (ideologically, semantically, emotionally, etc.).

The project intention is to show potential of the Palace of Culture and Science as an urban space. The individual fragments are designed to show the flexibility and sensitivity to changes of the building structure. By changing function of the Palace the flexibility of a Space is being proved. It is also being proved that a human being is able to widely process the Space within existing conditions. The aim is to illustrate the actual and ambiguous, dynamic correlation between man and a Space. This is not an architectural project in the strict sense, although it uses the architectural language. FORM does not matter, because it is not possible to clearly determine the finish formal result of these interactions. There are too many variables and dependencies. This is not an attempt to define patterns of Man-Space relations, their taxonomy or analysis. This study notice the fact, in which all of us are participate consciously or not. We create the Space and the Space creates/defines us

Project is divided into three time stages

1. Starting stage, in which the city is being designed: geometrical divisions of functions and zone plans, which occurs also in volume of building. This stage takes place in the space currently available inside the Palace of Culture, using the existing technical infrastructure and economic building base (facilities, parking, etc.). It shows the potential of space through the proposed design solutions. Proposed changes are not revolutionary. The object is not in bad technical condition. The existing infrastructure is sufficient.

2. Space processing stage. Space is being process by inhabitants. City gradually loses its original character, changes occur mainly in the level of individuals. Space locally “adopts” itself to given conditions and temporary needs of individuals.  City changes  locally.

3. Further space processing stage. By accumulation of point changes city completely loses its original character. Further changes results in disappearance of design intent and lack of readability in functional divisions.

The Project shows how the proposed urban space is dynamically changed by the human element. It shows how the city works,  how it develops from project stage to its creation. A good analogy can be found in a renaissance ideal cities „mutation” into contemporary city where the original symmetry and order disappears in time. The design principle is contained in the first stage. Next steps shows the Space processing in one out of millions of configurations. Selected path of creation aims to show in a distinct way the existence of dynamic interactions between Man and Space.

Historical information about Palace of Culture and Science (Warsaw, Poland) can be found below:

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