Warmińska Shopping Gallery

Project Description

Warminska Gallery has a city-wide catchment area, providing a commercial, trade, cultural and recreational facility for residents of Olsztyn and the surrounding area, and presents a spectacular combination of impressive aesthetics, a clear functional layout and respect for the extremely valuable natural and topographical context of the location.
The property is situated in a unique location at the interface of natural and urbanised space. This dialogue is the starting point for the design idea and for the solutions and themes applied. The character of the architecture is determined by the interpretation of the organic language of nature and local building traditions of the region. The elements shaping the façades of the building are structures referring to Olsztyn’s building tradition – as a transformation of the half-timbered and stone wall. The outer layer of the front penetrates into the main shopping arcade linking the main entrances. The thread of perforated organic “skin” on the front structures is continued in the interior with illuminated atria and it is also visible in the spatial motifs of the dining area, where the interior blends seamlessly with the area of greenery and outdoor recreation. The land on the side of the hill visible from the food court zone is the main recreation area for customers and visitors of the gallery. The facility, even though commercial, functions within the city as a place of culture and integration of the residents.