The investment from Warsaw was considered the best designed public space in Poland for the first time in the competition organized by the Society of Polish Town Planners. It is a distinguishing not only for Ghelamco but also for the capital, which has been waiting for such a high prize for a very long time. The competition is organized under the honorable patronage of the President of Poland.
Plac Europejski is an incredible design. It is completely new and unknown quality of public space in Poland, which is reflected not only by the aesthetics but also by the functional zone in the form of a place for meetings, culture and art. We are very glad that the jury composed of professionals appreciated huge efforts that we made to create this space – says Jarosław Zagórski, Commercial and Development Director of Ghelamco Poland.
Plac Europejski is the first public square on such a scale in Warsaw. It was designed and realized by developer on the private plot. This high class public space with fountains and greenery was realized in place of the former neglected city block of Towarowa, Grzybowska, Wronia and Łucka Streets.
While looking at life at Plac Europejski, we can see how much such place was needed in Warsaw. Inhabitants and employees of the nearby offices spend their free time among thousands of plants and lush trees every day. They can cool down in the summer period with the use of water from the cascade stream, which crosses the square up to Warsaw Spire. At night, the streams of the fountain are lightened up with colorful reflectors and they create a spectacle of water acrobatics. Enthusiasts of this big city and nature can find something for themselves in this place: there are numerous species of rare trees such as dawn redwood, bald cypress and honey locust – adds Jarosław Zagórski.
The project was devised by the Belgian architectural studio Wirtz International Landscape Architects. Its portfolio includes, for instance, gardens of the Élysée Palace, Jardin du Carrousel in Tuileries Gardens in Paris, or Jubilee Park in London.
Plac Europejski has a rich functional program, on which the investor of this project – Ghelamco – put special emphasis. For instance, Art Walk was realized in the northern part of the square. It is a specially designed modern exhibition gallery, thanks to which employees of the complex as well as inhabitants can experience art at any time during a day. Next to it, there are two murals on the walls of the tenement house at Grzybowska Street made by two artists: Rafał Olbiński and Francois Schuiten.
The character of the square is completed with restaurants and cafes, e.g. Daft cafe, Stixx Grill&Bar and Wabu Sushi Bar. Additionally, a new restaurant Genesis is to be opened soon.