Foundation for Polish Science Headquarters
Reconstruction and expansion of a partially destroyed residential building from World War II into the headquarters of a public benefit organization. Poland’s first living facade, composed of vegetation, completes the concept of the building as an ECO-machine. The garden surrounding the building serves as a space for integration and relaxation for its users.
An intimate office building for a non-profit institution, which is the largest non-budgetary source of science funding in Poland. Between 2012 and 2017, the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) allocated 541.5 million PLN to Polish science. The project involved the reconstruction and expansion of a deteriorating multi-family residential building, constructed in the 1930s and seriously damaged during World War II. The removal of the fence along the street enabled the integration of the public urban space with the building’s forecourt. A breakthrough penetrating the ground floor provides visual connection with the garden green space located at the rear of the FNP headquarters. A new atrium opens the interior to natural light. This is Poland’s first living facade, blurring the boundaries between the building and the ubiquitous greenery of the existing trees.
The existing building had to be adapted to meet contemporary requirements. It was necessary to reinforce the foundations, ceilings, load-bearing walls, and stairwell flights. Provisional infill walls installed immediately after World War II were replaced. Individual fire protection solutions were implemented. An underground parking garage was constructed, connected directly to the office building. The underground floor of the existing building was deepened and equipped with necessary waterproofing. We also took care to preserve original elements. After careful analysis, the staircase decor was deemed the best representation of the spirit of the era in which the building was created. The steps, made as cantilevered prefabricates from green terrazzo, were restored. The landings were refurbished with their distinctive small, mass-dyed ceramic tiles, known as “gorse corsets.” The new railing design incorporates original brass rosettes, masking the joints between the railing posts and the steps.
The vertical green facade and the natural lighting of interior spaces are the key elements of the building’s eco-strategy. The green exterior facade improves the building’s energy balance and enhances the internal microclimate. It consists of 17,000 plants, including year-round evergreens and species that bloom in spring and summer. The plants are planted in modular substrates attached to a precisely constructed steel substructure. Due to the designed plant pattern, each module was labeled and installed in a strictly designated position. The external vertical garden, with a total area of 260 m², is irrigated using rainwater collected in a retention tank from the roof and impermeable surfaces. This eliminates the need to discharge greywater into the city network. The atrium, penetrating all above-ground floors of the building, allows natural light to illuminate 96% of the floor area on these levels. Thanks to skylights in the roof, the planned underground parking is 100% illuminated with sunlight.
Historical background. Location.
The building is located in Wierzbno, part of one of Warsaw’s central districts—Mokotów—which was transformed into an urban area in the 1930s. It stands amidst loose villa-style development, immersed in greenery. The residential building was constructed in 1933 and was seriously damaged by an aerial bomb during World War II. It lost most of its front wall and parts of the ceilings down to the basement. The remaining structure was burned out. After the war, due to its poor technical condition, the building was initially slated for demolition. However, given the extensive destruction throughout the city—72% of Warsaw’s residential buildings were lost due to war operations—the decision was ultimately made to repair the damage. The reconstruction of the damaged parts of the building was not performed faithfully, as low-quality materials were used.
