With Architects Boyarsky Murphy (www.boyarskymurphy.com) we have been working on an E.U Competition entry for the design of a new Polish Museum of History in Warsaw.

The site of the proposed Museum is near the Castle of Ujazdow in the centre of Warsaw on an escarpment that overlooks the River Vistula. The Castle is now a Museum of Contemporary Art. At present the proposed Museum and the Castle are separated by a horrendous four-lane motorway constructed in the 1970’s. As part of the development envisaged in the competition a section of the motorway would be buried thus restoring the landscape and joining the new Museum with the Castle.

Our landscape proposals were based on the Baroque city plan completed in the 1780’s.This plan established clear views and a number of axes across the ancient city. We re-established some of the old historical relationships between the Castle, roads and vistas. Some of the circular points on the old baroque plan have been reinvented as transport hubs for Metro and Bus routes. Tree lined pedestrian walkways link the new Museum, Castle and the nearby Botanic Gardens. Canals with fountains set amongst a plantation of trees loosely based on a quincunx strengthen the axis between the Castle and the new Museum.

Presentation rules were strict with one model of the proposed Museum and three A0 black and white plans per entry only allowed.