Philadelphia Boulevard, Toruń

/ mention in the international competition
/ May, 2015

TEAM:
WXCA – Szczepan Wroński, Małgorzata Dembowska, Krzysztof Moskała,
Anna Majewska, Karol Sabalczyk (visualization)

TORUŃ – A PORT TOWN

The idea of the Project is to strengthen the connection between the Toruń’s Old Town and the river, which may emphasize a specific structure of the port town. A sequence of streets, perpendicular to the river bank, is a characteristic urban feature of Toruń, this is why the following project extends the existing streets down to the water. Each of them is ended with a terrace – lifted up or floating on the water, which may be a platform, where floating pavilions may be moored. Locating the majority of gastronomic facilities on the river allows to keep the natural character of the boulevard and helps to emphasize the town’s maritime traditions.

TERRACES/ PROMENADE

The space of the escarpment is shaped as natural, green terraces linking the area along the city wall and the river. It may provide the space for recreation offering a wide range of possibilities of using it – for the audience to river contests, for astronomical festivals or the local leisure area. Its flexible structure allows to arrange it as an outdoor exhibition for historical objects which are already present in the boulevard space.
The promenade along the river is to serve as an educational path representing the astronomical background of the town. The sequence of sundials is to mark the points of intersection of the promenade and streets linking the Old Town with the river.

THE TOWER

A natural character of the left bank of the river complements the urban design for the Philadelphia Boulevard and this is why a better connection between two banks is essential here . The project provides for a ferry connection in the place of a historical already non-existent bridge.
Moreover, a tower is to be located on the right side of the river to give a new perspective in looking towards the panorama of the Toruń’s Old Town.