Diagnosis.
First impression etches on the memory: dominant disorder. Two objects which take part in building high culture, function in schizophrenic contradiction which insults the basic rules of the composition. One, enormous, dominant Teatralny Square, second, located as in random angle, they form pretty pathetic duet. Large space potential, characterized by the grouping of various functions such as retail, services, culture and science stays untapped. Lack of clear spatial relations and attractive functional connections make impossible taking advantage of the location value of the plot. Despite important tasks existing functions have to fulfill, they do not organize the space, quite opposite they introduce noticeable irregularity, disturb perception, lose hierarchy. There are no limits between public and other spaces, there is no front and no back area. Everything melts under the gallery into the disordered square, and it continues with no improvement: parking, chaos of the disordered low building development and sudden contrasts in the shapeless opening of the Kośnego Street.
Action.
Our intervention is based on the way the mass of the new gallery building is laid out. Thus we’ll try to improve the errors we’ve noticed and we’ll balance whole urban pattern. By overhanging new exposition part over the existing Gallery building, we’ll introduce certain balance into the unsettled arrangement of the dominant features in the north frontage of Teatralny Square. This way both functions find appropriate proportions in the composition of the main wall. By continuing the development into the plot area we create urban interior, which sets the dialog with Theatre facade and, at the same time, it ensures the space for the technical requirements of the Gallery expansion. The climax is created by the mass of the corpulent tower which sets the architectonic polemics with newly built building of Art-Punkt. At the same time, the volume links with the urban bridge western inlet into the shaped square at the Kośnego Street - we frame it, and we give it the spatial chances.
Urban life.
One of the key points of the design was to use the existing spatial and functional conditions of the Teatralny Square and the square at the Kośnego Street. Unification of these areas into single organism will allow creation of the urban space, which is supposed to animate the cultural life of Opole. Designed extension of the Gallery is supposed to be dynamic spatial frame for different activities of everyday life s well as bigger happenings. New object creates vital space, were culture connects people and creates the platform for the artists and the spectators. New structure and existing Gallery make unified exposition object, where independent disciplines take place in order to strengthen the cultural city life.