Chmielna Development Skyscraper
Main data:
Total height: 282 m
Number of floors: 68
Planned term of finishing: 2011-12
Designers: Andrzej Wyszynski, Dorota Borysiewicz, Andrzej Pilatowski
Location: ul. Chmielna / Miedziana
In the first days of December 2007 a quite sensational information appeared in the media, saying about a project of a new skyscraper, much higher than any other in the city. A 280-metre high (with a spire) building would stand near Zawiszy Square, at Miedziana street, between Chmielna street and the railway line. The building would neighbour with the Warta building and would be situated also nearly opposite the skyscraper of Millenium Plaza (former Reform Plaza). Chmielna Development company, which belongs to Kulczyk Holding group, would be the investor. The company has already made a motion in the city hall to make a decision of the development conditions. Construction of this monumental building could start in 2009 and finish in 2011-2012. The estimated cost of this investment is about 1 billiard zlotys. The building would consist of few parts, each of different use: on the first floors offices would be located, higher - hotel rooms and on the top - apartments.
The authors of the initial design of the building are Andrzej Wyszynski (co-designer of Warsaw Trade Tower), Dorota Borysewicz and Andrzej Pilatowski. The skyscraper's architecture seems to be a little bit too 'twisted' - the building would consist of four solids, each made of triangular surfaces. Such form may look too complicated, but it is only an initial project, which will probably be later developed. There is a question, whether constructing such building in this place is actually realistic. At the moment there is no valid local plan of development for this area, so theoretically there are no limits for the height and the form of buildings. But a project of a plan, which is currently worked-out for this part of the city, excludes such possibility and limits the maximal height of buildings to 27 metres. But it is not sure if this plan would be soon passed and there is also a question, if it is necessary to impose such restrictions for the area, where there are already a lot of various buildings, not of one particular architectural form.
The possibility of constructing in Warsaw a building that would finally tower over the Palace of Culture is for sure a thing worth attention. But it is actually not sure how realistic this conception is. Even for such big concerns decision of starting so big investment is never easy. If this building was really built, it would finally end the domination of the Palace of Culture and for sure would become a new Warsaw's showcase. Only maybe this showcase could be a little bit prettier ? This skyscraper would be even not only the highest one in Warsaw, but also in Poland. However, information that appeared in some publications, saying that it would be also the highest one in the whole Europe is not actually true. Before the building will have been finished, in few European cities constructions of some taller buildings will already be ended.
Visualisations of the skyscraper:
(C) 2001-2010 Maciej Blazejewski