Karowa Street redevelopment in Warsaw — ‘Nowa Karowa’ competition

Description

EMA Studio’s competition concept for the Karowa Street redevelopment in Warsaw, entered under the motto ‘Nowa Karowa’ (New Karowa), covers almost 27,800 m² between the Vistula boulevards and Krakowskie Przedmieście. It restores the street’s historic ravine-like character: a new, gentle slope is built up between the existing side embankments, carrying a pedestrian and cycle promenade from the Vistula footbridge to the city centre. The scheme works on two levels. The lower is a recreation and play zone with hammock nets, mini trampolines, slides and tunnels, daylit through the perforated deck of the new street section. The upper is a city square with a light, glazed, green-roofed café and a cantilevered viewing terrace projecting in front of the treetops. An inclined lift links the levels, partly in an earth-covered tunnel, so the slope’s greenery remains continuous. The carriageway is narrowed throughout, the reclaimed space going to pedestrians and cyclists; historic cobbles are kept on the ‘Ślimak’ serpentine, with surplus setts reused for cycle paths and the café square. Water in the stream and ground-level fountain circulates in a closed, rainwater-fed loop, supplemented by rain gardens and overflow areas. Planting uses hardy, low-maintenance native species, with no felling of valuable trees.