Site Selection and Stages of Urban Intervention

While choosing a site for our urban intervention we focused on selecting a site which was of socio-economic importance and therefore gathers many locals. We were searching for a space that was served as a transition place for the youth and a crossing of many functions. Therefore, we have decided to choose the crossing of st. and Reymonta st.

Reasons for site selection:

1. Local socio-economic centre:

     - place of multifunctional importance, economical node
     - it a place of local economical importance, as there are 2 big shops (Top Market and Biedronka) and a pharmacy, which are placed next to each other, and a Motorcycle Repair Shop. This means that locals gather here in large numbers to collect groceries and therefore, it becomes a place of social interaction;

2. Local educational centre:

     - this place gathers students from around town who attend the Zespół Szkół Ekonomiczno - Gastronomicznych im. S. Staszica. We have observed that after the classes finish, the youth just spread out and presumably go home. There is a significant, noticeable lack of a place for the youth to wind down after classes, meet with their friends and simply 'be young' together;
     - local library Biblioteka Publiczna Miejska. Filia nr 3 is a place of additional self-teaching with an impressive collection of books and encyclopaedia, but also acts a community gathering place. During our excursion in Otwock we had the pleasure to witness the gathering of 'Cat Lovers' Evening'. This was a clear indication to us that the community is in dire need for a gathering place for social activities, interaction with people who have similar interests. Because of this, the library itself looses its primary function, and in turn additionally houses small scale events for the locals;

3. Transition point:

     - the node can act as a spatial connector between the existing town centre and the new town centre, which is included in the MPZP plans from the municipality


Map of the existing state of the node:

Area of interest:

Stages of Urban Intervention:

Within our scheme of urban development in the area we have several changes in hope that these will better the state of the existing node and encourage the locals to use the node more often, also as a place of social interaction and recreation. The stages of our urban interventions are listed below.


Maps showing the existing site and our proposal:

Phase 1.     Public Plaza and Community Centre:

- change the layout of the streets - we have enclosed Żeromskiego st. on the North, so to create a Public Square in the centre of the node, and moved it along the road between Biedronka and Top Market;
- bike paths implemented along the streets;
- moving Biedronka, Top Market and the pharmacy further down to the western side along Reymont st.;
- implementation of a new parking garage, thus creating more parking spaces for the locals, should they want to stay in the area and the Plaza longer;
- Public Plaza with the Community Centre located in the north-western corner with a cafeteria in the Southern part of the building of the Community Centre, the Plaza will also acts as a place for social events, such as musical events, dancing workshops and local farmer's market will take place and other festivals will take place;
- seating spaces around the Public Plaza with strips of low greenery, which will create a more familiar atmosphere of being close to nature;
- Community Garden in the North-East corner of the Plaza - this is a permanent form of the Mobile Garden theme booth, where the locals will have the opportunity to learn more about plants, as well as plant their own fruit and vegetables;
- we have decided to leave the existing greenery (South-East corner) in the implemented Plaza, as to not disturb the natural habitat too much.


Phase 2.     Playground and Public Park:

- organised greenery (low and high greenery);
- low meadow, which can acts a place of recreation for the locals (picnic spot);
- health paths, which have been implemented along the site in order to promote walking as a form of healthy lifestyle and keeping oneself in good physical condition;
- bus stops shall be moved to the north of the implemented Public Plaza, along Żeromkiego st and in close proximity form the playground;
- bright orange colour indicates new bike roads.

Phase 3.     Open Gym:

- beach volleyball sand court;
- open gym with gym equipment;
- meadow for additional physical activities, such as yoga;
- health paths;
- new parking spaces organised in the South-Eastern corner, which is due to our implementing the Open Gym in place of the existing parking lot for the school goers.

Phase 4.     Boulevard:

- continuation of the health path, which came to life as the street will be opened for pedestrian activity only;
- seasonal food market, farmer's market, flower market (once a month, after discussions with the locals);
- bike paths;
- benches;
- organised tall greenery will be implemented along the passage, so to protect the locals living directly next to the passage from the noise.