Architect: Pracownia Architektury Głowacki
Location: Wrocław
Client: Academy of Fine Arts Wrocław
Date: 2012
Wrocław’s architectural past and present meet in the new Academy of Fine Arts. (Photos: Jakub Certowicz)
Pracownia Architektury Głowacki PAG was established in 2005 by architect Tomasz Głowacki in Wrocław. Głowacki is a lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture of Wrocław Technical University, and studied at the AA School of Architecture in London, the Technical University of Wrocław and holds a PhD from Wrocław’s University of Technology. The practice is also known for its design of private houses including House + (2005) in Wrocław, and Broken Barn House (2009) in Bielany Wrocławskie.
paglowacki.pl
In Wrocław – a city that saw 80 percent of its buildings destroyed during World War II – one can easily trace the areas where the most heavy and concentrated destruction took place. One of these, the Spoleczny Square, has been a void in the city since the war, and since the 1970s its dedicated purpose has been to serve as an oversized road junction. The new Academy of Fine Arts is the first contemporary building to face the void. It follows the line of the street, enclosing an existing housing block. Its glass skin, covered with white screen-printed dots, wraps the concrete structure, creating compelling views from inside the building, whether out towards the neighbouring expressionist post office or a small park on the east side. When its interior is lit, the building allows passers-by a glimpse into the Academy’s various workshops.
In contrast to many of the entries that were submitted by architects for the original design competition for the Academy, Tomasz Glowacki’s winning design of 2007 prizes simplicity and clarity above all – its double-height studios allow a great amount of natural light in and its wide corridors are perfect for the staging of exhibitions. At night, its sleek façade is to be the future site of a large-scale LED screen. I (Łukasz Wojciechowski)
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