Revitalisation reduced solely to building renovations, repairs to pavements and road surfaces fails to reflect the multidimensional nature of the exemplary transformation programmes being implemented. All the more so as all such programmes are primarily aimed at people. Nevertheless, architectural changes, which are an important element of revitalisation, are among the most visible – they determine the aesthetics and image of a given place, and also influence the perception and functionality of the urban fabric. Over time, they may also contribute to transformations in the economic and social spheres.
Products commonly used in public spaces are available from Polbruk – a leader in its sector. Here is an overview of the most interesting projects using this brand’s products.
Public spaces
The high functional and aesthetic qualities of concrete pavers make them a popular choice for public space projects, whether for the construction of new walkways or the modernisation of existing ones.
As a result, countless projects have been completed using Polbruk products. Among the most significant are the resurfacing of Piotrkowska Street in Łódź, the Town Square in Boguchwała (Podkarpackie Province), the promenade by the Monument to the Defenders of the Coast at Westerplatte, and the pavements in Hellwig’s Spa Park in Ciechocinek.
Of the entire 4.2 km length of Piotrkowska Street, 340 metres have been paved with grey ‘Polbruk Rectangle’ pavers – the simplest yet most versatile option in the range. It is worth noting that each paver features a plaque bearing the name of a city resident, effectively forming a monument – one of the longest in the world. The entire composition is a decoration in itself and adds variety to the urban space. In turn, the Market Square in Boguchwała was constructed using pavers Polbruk Urbanika – smooth, in the colours barwy jesieni and nerino, as well as washed – yellow and grey. The style of the pavers used echoes the central point of the Market Square, which is the historic brick granary. As a result, the building has been prominently highlighted, and thanks to the entire modernisation project, Boguchwała has gained not only a new Market Square (covering an area of 1.24 ha) in place of a neglected industrial area, but also an interesting venue for meetings and fairs. Meanwhile, in the park in Ciechocinek, the new pedestrian walkways were created by combining grey pavers Urbanika with mottled, warm-toned pavers Polbruk Nostalite. The result is a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing walkway with a striking, contrasting effect.
Workplaces and educational institutions
Pavers are also appreciated by designers and architects whose task is to transform the image of workplaces and educational institutions. Interesting projects of this nature using paving products from Polbruk certainly include the surroundings of the Rzeszów University of Technology campus, the Musical Theatre in Gdynia and the EC1 science and culture centre in Łódź (the buildings originally belonged to a power station).
Thanks to the use of Polbruk pavers Ideo (smooth, in the colour latte) and Polbruk Avanti (washed, graphite) at the Rzeszów University of Technology building (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics), the entire arrangement is harmonious and blends together perfectly. The elements used brighten up the space and form a cohesive whole with the building’s façade, making the space attractive and pleasant to look at. Meanwhile, the surroundings of the Musical Theatre in Gdynia were laid using Polbruk Complex (washed, grey). The pavers have attractively complemented the theatre’s design since its extension in 2012/2013. Meanwhile, the EC1 building complex, which has been undergoing regeneration since 2010, is adorned with Polbruk Rectangular Pavers with chamfered edges. The grey finish of the paving highlights the buildings’ unique, post-industrial character. Thus, the company’s product has become a key element in the transformation of the power station building into a science and culture centre.
Railway stations and platforms
Over the last few years, Polish State Railways has spent around PLN 1 billion on the modernisation of almost 90 railway stations. The process is ongoing, and renovated, modern facilities are being made available to passengers on an ongoing basis. Polbruk plays a key role in the transformation of Polish railway stations. The company’s products have been used to renovate facilities such as: Warsaw West Station, Warsaw East Station, Gdańsk Wrzeszcz Station, Gdynia Main Station and Bydgoszcz Leśna Station.
Warszawa Zachodnia Station is a modern building with a total area of approximately 1,300 square metres, situated close to the city centre and the capital’s main thoroughfare – Aleje Jerozolimskie. The most distinctive feature of the building is the impressive 500-square-metre glass dome situated above the main entrance. The surroundings of the building have been landscaped using large-format concrete slabs Polbruk Urbanika 60. The product owes its appeal to its geometric rectangular shape, its unusual dimensions (60x20 cm), its grey hue and its smooth texture. As a result, the slab provides a unique backdrop for the modern station building, organises the space and makes the surface an integral, almost natural part of the modernist structure.
Bydgoszcz Leśna Station, on the other hand, is a completely new building, which in 2016 replaced the old station that had been in operation since 1969. As part of the redevelopment, a single-storey, modern building with an area of approx. 300 m² was constructed, whose style resembles stations in Scandinavia. The paving around the building was also laid using Polbruk Urbanika 60 slabs (colour Ardo_d). Along with the construction of the new station building, the adjacent area – the junction of Sułkowskiego and Modrzewiowa streets, which is important for this part of the city – was redeveloped. In addition, access roads and pavements were modernised, and cycle paths were constructed. The Bydgoszcz Leśna transport hub was created as part of the investment project to build viaducts and railway stations in the Bydgoszcz-Toruń metropolitan area, BiT-City.
Architectural changes are a key element of regeneration projects. Combined with other measures to address social, environmental and economic issues, they support multi-faceted, sustainable transformations aimed at bringing these urban areas out of crisis.
