Szkicowa koncepcja bydynku przy ulicy Emilii Plater w Warszawie

The presently discussed outline project of an office building to be constructed in 28 Emilii Plater Street, Warsaw, was designed at the Institute for the Foundations of the Development o f Architecture, Warsaw College o f Science and Technology, within the frameworks o f a study on revalorization o f a major complex o f the built-up area dating from the second half o f the 19th and the early 20th century. In the area covered by the research, and situated in the centre of Warsaw, there is to be found a site once occupied by a building which has been pulled down. At the time of commencement of the said study there was already available a project design o f an office building to be raised in the said site. The project aroused, however, numerous objections since it referred neither to the dimensions and skyline nor the character o f the neighbouring tenement-houses. Hence two variants o f the project prepared as an attempt at introducing there architectonic forms which, though up-to-date, would be harmonized with the historical surroundings. The authors o f the project started from the assumption that the new building seen from more distant parts of the central area would make an impression o f one similar to the neighbouring nineteenth century houses and, at close quarters, of a structure typical of modern architecture. The inspiration were the characteristic traits of employed in moulding a tenementhouse, e.g. the rhythm o f window openings, crossections of the roof, more pronounced outline o f lower storeys and the crowning and light-and-shade effects of the bay windows and details. They were translated into a modern modular system o f shield walls and also of the roofs, built of plastic materials with the outer layer o f imported mat asbestic tile having a fine, slight relief or a layer o f plaster. The door and window trims are o f yellow metal. In the design of inner elevation large glazed surfaces and inclined walls were introduced in order to provide for better insolation of the interior.