The results of the competition for the architectural concept for the revitalization of the fountain in the Little Market Square in Sandomierz have been announced. The winning work by Natalia Szymańska is an elegant and simple installation of glass cuboids placed in the existing pool of the fountain.
In March 2021, Pilkington Polska and the University of Ecology and Management in Warsaw signed an agreement that became the basis for the announcement of a competition for the revitalization of the fountain in the Little Market Square (Mały Rynek) in Sandomierz, Poland. The competition was aimed at architecture students who could gain experience in designing.
The fountain in the Little Market Square is its central point, a meeting place for many people. The development of the concept of its revitalization will allow the commencement of works aimed at changing the image of the Little Market Square.
“We are glad that we can participate in projects that influence reality and enable the implementation of bold and modern visions of architecture students” – says Mariusz Kołodziej, Sales Director of the Glass Architectural Division of NSG Group in Eastern Europe.
“This is one of the many activities that we carry out together with the city of Sandomierz. The winning design will be made next year using Pilkington OptiShower™ glass, which is coated with a durable pyrolytic coating that prevents corrosion due to prolonged exposure to moisture. Glass in contact with water, under the influence of heat and high humidity, can corrode over time, which has a negative impact on its transparency and appearance, and the choice of anti-corrosion glass from our offer will allow to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the fountain.”
The competition entries were assessed by the jury composed of: Mariusz Kołodziej, Monika Kuczyńska, Ryszard Jania – representatives of the NSG Group in Poland, Marcin Marzec mayor of Sandomierz, Leszek Polanowski head of the Sandomierz Delegation of the Provincial Office for Monument Protection in Kielce and architects Piotr Gastman and Maciej Wyszogrodzki.
The jury selected the best proposals solely on the basis of the graphic and descriptive parts of the competition entry. They were assessed in terms of land development, composition and spatial layout as well as architecture. External aesthetic values, compliance with conservation guidelines and recommendations were taken into account. The Commission also paid attention to functionality and security, as well as the possibility of implementing the proposed solutions.
The submitted works presented a completely different approach to the urban space and the theme of the fountain. The choice of the winner was therefore not only the choice of the most interesting proposal, but also the overall concept of the direction in which the changes in the Little Market Square should go.
The first prize was awarded to Natalia Szymańska. The winning work is an elegant and simple installation of glass cuboids placed in the existing pool of the fountain. The awarded form strengthens the artistic expression of the construction, to which the inhabitants have already got used to, and at the same time it creates a new context for observing water at different times of the day.
The glass installation, illuminated after dark, has a chance to become a new attraction of Sandomierz. The choice of the winning design is a tribute to the history of Sandomierz and the current form of development of the Little Market Square. It is also an indication that in a good, historic space, small urban interventions can significantly improve the quality and change the image of the place.