Retunda
Warsaw, Poland

Our project, Re-Tunda re activates the dormant Iconic Rotunda, the site and it's surrounding context into an activated hub, gathering and distributing pedestrians.

The center of the hub is the 'Rotunda' which was developed from the existing iconic building. It creates a gravitational pull, drawing pedestrians in and distributing them to the adjacent under ground public transportation, bank, restaurant, bar, roof top garden and cafe and to the surrounding business district and mall.

The Rotunda is a formal and informal space within people pass through, pause, sit, and people watch. An amphitheater is located at the base of the Rotunda and provides a formal place to watch impromptu musicians, scheduled concerts and movies or events.

In plan, the form of the new ReTUNDA envelopes the existing Rotunda. The form grows and pulls away from the Rotunda, creating three distinct spaces which in plan on the ground and upper level take on the form of an 'Amoeba'.

Within the Amoeba, three spaces are created which house the bank headquarters for PKO, a restaurant with outdoor seating and a retail space. The upper level contains a bar and a garden.

Our project consists of minimal materials; poured in place concrete structure, polished concrete floors, clear and frosted glass curtain walls, polished stainless steel, green roof technology. The green roof creates a tranquil garden space, while emitting Co2, and providing thermal insulation. Geothermal technology will be used to heat and cool the building.

This new activated hub, will re establish a greater physical presence on the site and in the city. The transformation of the existing Rotunda with the addition of the lower 'Amoeba' like building provides an intimate scale to the passer by either pedestrian or vehicular. ReTunda will capture the spirit of the past re establish itself as an iconic building of the city of Warsaw, Poland.