Lublin, Poland

Unfinished Theatre

UNFINISHED THEATRE

HISTORY OF THE PLACE, INCOMPLETENESS, INTERNET /WEB/

History of place
“Unfinished Theatre” constitutes a material record of history of the place while being evidence of bygone area – the epoch of Polish People’s Republic. “Unfinished Theatre” is an emblem of utopian, started but never executed, incomplete political project. It is unfinished emblem of megalomania and ignoring social-economic reality.

INCOMPLETENESS
We need to emphasize this feature: incompleteness. In a profound way it describes a state of our society nowadays. Project of the Center of Meeting of Cultures does not strive to hide this state of incompleteness, but it preserves and exposes this incompleteness in many aspects. So we “enter” the old building of “Unfinished Theatre” with new idea, new solutions, new destination for this place /the Center of Meeting of Cultures/. New idea – internet erases old, unfinished structure of the Theatre, and simultaneously it opens and arranges its public space. As a result new building interpreted on a few levels of meanings (by the observer) is established: we want to build our future on the past in a legible way; world of multimedia and interactive message arises on the old structure.

INTERNET – WEB
Nowadays there is a new, important space of meeting of cultures – global web /internet/. It affects our lives increasingly. Therefore, trying to understand what the Meeting of Cultures means, we could not pass over this new phenomenon. In a way the Center of Meeting of Cultures should also become a connecting link in this global web in symbolic and very exact dimension.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Consecutive, although entirely separate architectural idea of this project is energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is fundamental responsibility of architect in the face of challenges posed by sustainable development. Peter Buchanan in his essay “Beyond the cult of the object” writes: “The environmental crisis, which is far broader than climate change, is the most obvious and urgent of the interlinked problems facing our globalising world. This could give new purpose to architecture that, along with other forms of environmental design, should be on the front line confronting this crisis with creativity.”

THE EUROPEAN UNION SQUARE
Like the Lithuanian Square connects Lublin with tradition of the Commonwealth of Both Nations, the Theatre Square should represent our membership in the European Union. These two places in space of Lublin City are united by words spoken by Pope John Paul II: “From Lublin Union to European Union”. United Europe is a grand forum of meetings of Cultures. The European Union Square will be the symbol of cultures and traditions, which built Europe: Greek, Latin and Judeo-Christian. The history of Lublin City, located at the periphery of The European Union, is the perfect example. It will be symbolized by scattered letters of alphabets: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Cyrillic, embedded in slope and bends of the Square. Being in every community, in which various cultures and religions meet and clash, is inevitably related with making arduous efforts of coexisting, with the necessity of the dialogue.
It is a kind of unsteady balance, instability and tension emphasizing by slopes and bends of the Square. Letters in the form of types will also refer to Europe property – epoch-making invention of printing /Gutenberg/. Owing to this invention tehnological turn took place in culture and it allowed to exchange information more rapidly. We are eye-witnesses of changing of Gutenberg’s age into the age of internet.

SPATIAL PLAN
CITY SCALE
Krakowskie Przedmieście street from Kołłątaja street to Lipowa street, together with a fragment of Racławickie Avenue to the Catholic University of Lublin, is designed as a pedestrian avenue of slow and minor traffic with the priority to public transport. Successive squares are threaded onto this axis: from market square of the Old City of Lublin and Łokietek Square, across Lithuanian Square, up to designed European Union Square – the Theatre Square. The road layout of Krakowskie Przedmieście street and Racławickie Avenue will be narrowed to two lanes. The pavements will be broadened. Enlarged high greenery will shadow parking spaces and separate traffic from pedestrian passage.
An urban planning element – sculptural component should not make the closing of Krakowskie Przedmieście street in this area. It should be urban dominant. Closing of the axis of Krakowskie Przedmieście street is designed as high, slim hotel building in place of the Unia hotel. The building will be compositional completion of horizontal, solid, new building of the Catholic University of Lublin. It will be vertical emphasis in the cityscape as well and it will refer to upright towers: Trynitarska, Cathedral, Krakowska Gate, City Hall.

SQUARE
Square is of a simple form. A part of the slope, uplifts/elevations and curves in front of the Center of Meeting of Cultures symbolises the ongoing history of the European culture coming into being; the culture which is an effect of the continuous clash of positions, world outlooks and seeking compromises.
These elements of the European Culture are symbolized by letters of different alphabets embedded into slopes of the Square. In the night they will be illuminated. Traces of Radziszewskiego street and the Culture Avenue will be marked in white, concrete texture by means of light fittings placed in the square floor and of small architecture. Inclined part of the square is a place for seating, roller-skating, and other art happenings. This is a stage in the open air. The square’s shape also allows to arrange seats and stage in front of the “Near the Square” pavilion. It is a natural extension of the Center of Meeting of Cultures on the outside.

“Near the Square” pavilions
Down the Racławickie Avenue single-storeyed pavilion is designed, which separates the European Union Square from the street. There will be exits of the car park under the square and backrooms of restaurant and café on the -2 and –1 levels. Restaurant and café are designed on the 0.0 level. Water surface is arranged in front of the pavilion. The pavilion is transparent, elevations and roof are made of glass. he pavilion constitutes the closing /wings/ of Krakowskie Przedmieście street and the foundation of the main closing of the high building of the hotel.

“Gate to the Park” pavilions
Similar pavilion to the “Near the Square” one is designed in front of the building of the former Voivodeship Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party. It is a gate to the Saski Park. Exits of the car park are designed at the back and in the front of the former Committee in the pavilion. Restaurant and café are designed on the ground floor of the pavilion. Seasonal café-gardens are arranged in front of the pavilions. Currently there is a lack of prestigious gastronomic objects near or in the Saski Park. Transparency of the pavilions gives a fine view of the Square and the building of the former Committee from the side of Racławickie Avenue. Extension of Uniwersytecka street to Racławickie Avenue optimises the fluidity of traffic in the area of the Theatre and allows to incorporate the green areas into the recreation “resource base” of the Square.

VEHICLE TRAFFIC
It is assumed to “calm down” the traffic in Racławickie Avenue in the section from Długosza street to Lipowa street by:
change of classification Racławickie Avenue to KDL /polish classification of local roads/, directing a part of the traffic north through Racławicke and Poniatowski crossroads, then Racławickie – Długosza crossroads and to the south through Racławickie – Sowińskiego crossroads, then Racławickie – extension of Uniwersytecka street.
priority to public transport and taxicabs /local traffic/
shifting traffic away from Krakowskie Przedmieście street, and extending the promenade to Kołłątaja street.

Car park under the Square
Two-leveled car park for 270 cars is designed under the Square. Entrances from Radziszewskiego street and connection with car parks near Medical University /150 parking spaces/, Marshal Office and Lublin Culture Centre /150 parking spaces/.

GREENERY
Columnar oaks growing along Racławickie Avenue from the side of the Theatre will be bedded out. Second row of oaks will be planted in order to regulate line of trees. Gardens will be formed on the basis of regional perennials, heathers, grasses and creeping plants along the Garden Avenue, with regard to location on slab. Gardens will be arranged alternately with flowerbeds.

ARCHITECTURE
PROCESS
The designed building will be a record of its execution process. Designed elements serve as a cover of the existing structure
All new building components: walls, acoustic casings, floors, suspended ceilings, installations are introduced in a way to display “old and new”. New designed structures differ from existing structure legibly. Elevations from the side of Skłodowskiej-Curie street are left deliberately as an evidence of building up in layers /stratifying/. Intrusions in structure: cutting or reinforcement will be noticeable as well. Accepted concept allows to open the building to new elements, which will be introduced in the near future – large screens displaying images in LCD or ED technology. In the building which lives with art, and art is today information – message (conveying), implementing such elements on the elevation and in the interior is inevitable. It is suggested to place the large screen on the elevation of the Gallery from the side of the Square. It will be enormous screen /45mx10m/, which will become the same area of exhibition and production as the Centre of Meeting of Cultures and the Square.

STRUCTURE
The most important aim of designed spatial structure of “Unfinished Theatre” is to adjust it to new functions. Well-defined, functional allocating of individual parts: Large Hall, the Centre of Meeting of Cultures, Media Room, Gallery, Concert Hall, Musical Theatre, with simultaneous creation of legible communication and exhibition area: Culture Avenue, which integrates those parts.

CULTURE AVENUE
The main, inner public space integrating institutions located in “Unfinished Theatre” with the areas, is communication axis – Culture Avenue. It connects the European Union Square with Skłodowskiej-Curie street. This inner passage allows connection of restaurant and café with the foyer and Media Room, permanent Art Gallery, Musical Theatre, Concert Hall and other institutions, which will be functioning in this small town of culture. It is also the main, common exhibition and promotional area of the Centre of Culture Meeting. The main, common exhibition and promoting space will be dedicated to all institutions (collectively), and to each one individually and it will completement halls and the foyer, Gallery and Media Room. It is also a meeting place for workers and residents of Lublin.
This small alley is cut in existing structure of the building. There are footbridges on the +1, +2, +3 level /depending on functional necessities/ suspended above the space illuminated from the top. Ground floor of this small alley is arranged by furniture, greenery and isles – multimedia points with internet access. This is spatial and symbolic backbone of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures, because internet becomes authentic area of meeting of cultures nowadays. Free internet acccess for guests visiting the Centre of Meeting of Cultures and for citizens of Lublin, as cultural and educational project, is appropriate interpretation of the areas of meeting of cultures. Simultaneously multimedia points will be equipped with programmes created by the Centre of Meeting of Cultures, Lublin city and other institutions interested with promoting cultural, civic and public values.

New cubatures
Only a fragment was built on to the front elevation – to the border of stairs, the fragment between A1 and C parts /café/ and the fragment form the side of Skłodowskiej-Curie street /restaurant/.

FUNCTION
In accordance to the rules of the Competition following functional complex is designed: Large Hall – capacity: 1200 /1195/ people; together with the foyer, reception office, dressing rooms, bar, box-offices /from the side of Grottgera street and Culture Avenue/ rehearsal rooms, stockrooms, etc. Flexibility in the functioning of Large Hall, the auditorium, the backstage and outstanding acoustic amenity /see acoustics concept/ are assumed to be the conditions determining the usefulness of Large Hall. 1. Small Hall with a capacity of 200 people, located in the left side auditorium. Entrance from the main hall on the 0.0 level.
2. Conference Hall – capacity: 80 people, located in the right side auditorium. It consists of two rooms /capacity: 40 people each/ dividing by movable walls. Entrance from the main hall on the 0.0 level.
3. Small seminar rooms – 5 rooms, capacity: 25 people each, located in the main hall on the 0.0 level. It is a possibility to divide individual rooms by movable partition walls. 4. Permanent Art Gallery is located on the right side of the entrance to Culture Avenue. The “sky-high” Gallery is designed on three levels. This is a long, narrow room, glazed from the north side and from the top. The “sky-high” Gallery connects the Gallery with exhibition terraces on the roof of the building. Private views /vernissages/ are suggested to be organized here, on the outside with a fine view of the Park and the city of Lublin.
5. Media Room with library located behind the Gallery, opened toward the garden in the patio.
6. Club Room located interchangeably with Conference Hall. Armchairs and small tables will be delivered from stockroom if necessary. Café or the main hall’s refreshment room will deliver buffet.
7. Café is located between A1 part and C part, on the ground-floor, on the +1 level and the -1 level /backroom/, with the view of the patio. Convenient communication is provided with the main hall on the 0.0 level and the foyer of Large Hall on the +1 level. Restaurant is designed in new part of the building from the side of Skłodowskiej-Curie street. Already existing backroom facilities on the 0.0 level and on the low ground floor were adapted. Thanks to Culture Avenue all the functions of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures have facilitated access to the restaurant.
8. “Cosy Places” are arranged in all reception offices in the form of separate areas of individualized character. Creating of small areas /4-10m2/, of different colouring, furniture /4-6 armchairs, small tables/, lighting, detaching by acoustic screens, allows to separate them from large cubatures.
9. Guest rooms /6 rooms, area: 26,36 m2 each/ are located in existing C part of the building on the +3 level, available directly from the reception office of the administrative part of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures.
10. “Artists-in-residence” rooms of culture-forming projects are arranged on the +2 level.
11. Administration part of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures is located in the C part on the 0.0 and +1 level.
12. Musical Theatre – exits from staircases are moved on the outside.
13. Concert Hall – evacuation staircases are redesigned according to the regulations; existing staircases are opened outside.

The building is designed in a way allowing to access above-mentioned functions from the Culture Avenue. Entrances to Large Hall, backstage – dressing rooms, administration part of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures, the Gallery, Media Room, café, restaurant, Musical Theatre are the exits as well.

ELEVATIONS
The front elevation of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures is grand Screen of Meeting of Cultures. Eastern and western elevations are made of vertical prefabricated elements of white concrete on steel substructure. Southern elevations are “double-skin” with photovoltaic cells. The whole upper part of western elevation is equipped with wind power plant with “urban” – vertical turbins /fans/. Those elevations are of technological character. Northern elevations from the side of the Square are made of prefabricated elements of Corian®. These are three screens of Meeting of Cultures. On the ground floor the narrow glass lane along the entire length opens the inside of the Center of Meeting of Cultures to the space of the Square. The monolithic pane from Corian® hung above it gives the effect of the lantern. When the foyer is brightened up elevation glows like a surface of frosted glass. In the day the foyer is illuminated by subdued daylight and elevation from the side of the Square looks alike western and eastern concrete elevations. The upper parts of northern elevation will be illuminated from the inside. Designed elevations are openwork /as a fence/ and keeping a distance from existing structure. They are suggested to encase the structure, leaving opportunity for interpretation of original substance.

GRAND SCREEN OF MEETING OF CULTURES
The front elevation of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures is a grand screen – Screen of Meeting of Cultures. Elevation made of Corian® enables to display slides and films by means of projectors from the inside of the foyer. Properties of Corian® allow to transmit light images from inner wall surface to outside. Therefore at dusk the front wall of the Centre of Meeting of Cultures will become grand screen for artistic production, promotional and information campaigns of Centre of Meeting of Cultures. It is also the symbol of the entire Centre of Meeting of Cultures as multimedia, internet – electronic area, where message – information is the most important value. Vertical accent of the front elevation is opening of Culture Avenue and curtain /like theatrical drape or flag/ waving in the wind covers it. This the main entrance to the Centre of Meeting of Cultures. Entrance to the main hall and the foyer of Large Hall are designed on the axis of Large Hall.
In the near future the part of the screen will certainly be replaced by LCD or LED screens which will show information about and reports on exhibitions, performances, as well as commercials. It corresponds with the latest trends of applying technology in buildings.

PROJECT TEAM:
general designer: Bolesław Stelmach – architect
designers: Marek Zarzeczny, Rafał Szmigielski, Zbigniew Wypych – architects
cooperation: Karol Adamski, Magdalena Dobrowolska, Sławomir Kłos, Jarosław
Kowalski, Konrad Opasała, Michał Rakowski, Agnieszka Sokół, Tomasz Szot energy efficiency cooperation: Jarosław Sosnowski
acoustic engineer: Ewa Więckowska-Kosmala
fire protection specialist: Włodzimierz Skolimowski
road engineer: Anna Rudnicka

Europaconcorsi Beta

Unfinished Theatre