London based STUDIO BEDNARSKI LTD are among three winners in an invited competition involving a 12,000 m2 1500-seat facility and a multifunctional urban park.
The competition was organised by the authorities of Praga Poludnie district of Warsaw. Eleven other design teams from Poland, Germany and Finland were also invited. In an unusual competition format the local authority will now select the final designer through negotiations with all three winners, two Polish and one British. The facility will house a full Olympic size ice pad, a health club with squash and tennis courts, conference / meeting / community facilities and catering. Additional space has been provided for storing removable floors and grandstands ( 1200 additional seats ), which will be used for a variety of other spectator events like basketball, volleyball, fashion shows, concerts etc. The striking form of the building was arrived at through analysis of functional and environmental needs and constraints. Cezary Bednarski said : “The functional brief for this multifunctional facility conflicted with the available,
and very limited, land area. This is why we decided to place two tennis courts on the roof and use thus
released land to create an urban park with a play area for street basketball and beach ball, a skate park
in a sculptural indent in the pavement level, a playground for children and a timber grand stand
separating a new public square from the play areas. As gold silver and bronze excite the sports people
the building will be clad in these three colours, using large anodised aluminium panels.”
The roof above the rink is suspended on steel tendons and made of highly insulated low emissivity
concrete planks. The design was based on strict environmental principia including active and passive
techniques for –20°C + 32°C temperature range. The hanging roof has been oriented due south-west
and is to feature an array of photovoltaic panels by Alwitra.
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