The Regional Court in Katowice has decided the architectural competition for the project of a new seat of the District Court „Katowice-Wschód” and awarded the first prize. The new facility will be located at 70A Francuska St. The winning concept design was prepared by „Wojciech Gęsiak Studio Architektoniczne” from Radom, Poland.
The competition procedure was carried out by the Regional Court in Katowice, which is a parent body of the District Court. The public invitation for architects had been issued in January 2013. The jury decided about the winners last month and the chosen project has just been revealed this week.
There will be nine ground storeys in the building (from 0 to 8th floor), -1 level partially uncovered and -2 underground level. 216 parking places will be erected within the new facility. A glassy connecting part was designed on the north side between the existing and the new building where the main entrance will be situated. An internal glassy atrium will cross the entire facility vertically what enables to brighten interiors by the natural light. A half-open rectangular terrace was schemed on the higher part of the building to be used as a viewing and recreational platform.
„The main feature of the elevation is vertical „razor blades” acting as a supporting construction. Also, the „razor blade” elevation will prevent offices from the sun exposure on the south side and will reduce the noise from the A4 motorway on the north side. Only a dark green glass and white walls plastering will be used to compose the elevation” – explained Wojciech Gęsiak, the head architect of the project.
The building will be erected in accordance with the latest renewable energy resources’ solutions. The designer proposed to apply the recuperation system of ventilation enabling to safe at least 40% of heat. Additionally, photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roof, rain water will be reused in bathrooms and to arrose lawns. A ground heat exchanger will provide about 60% of heat for hot water and heating, as well as 50% of heat to produce ice water in summer.
The winning firm will now prepare a detailed project of the new seat. Apart from the first prize, the jury also awarded three honourable mentions for Archistudio, WXCA and „Pracownia Autorska i Biuro Prawne”.
Following departments will be located in the new District Court’s building: real-estate register, criminal, award judgment, economic and „KRS”, among others premises. The Regional Court representatives did not yet reveal when the construction work would be commenced. Last year the court expected to spend approximtely PLN 60 million for the new seat.
