Quarter
The Emilia Plater 29-31 Social and Cultural Quarter is a unique space in the center of Warsaw, located between the historic skyscrapers of the former Marriott and Elektrim. On a plot of land located within the former pomological garden, stand two school buildings that are great examples of post-war modernism. They stood unused for almost a decade. Since 2020, the former elementary school has been the home of the Komuna Warszawa Theater.
School
The former school building has proved to be an excellent place for the implementation of many activities initiated by communities working in the fields of architecture, urban planning, visual arts, social research, and equality initiatives. The completed projects have revealed the potential of the site as a unique urban and architectural assumption that responds to the challenges of the climate crisis and fits in with the assumptions of Warsaw’s flagship urban development project, the New Center of Warsaw. Plenty of greenery, a publicly accessible sports zone, the renovation of which was carried out from the civic budget thanks to the initiative of Komuna Warszawa, socio-cultural events, concerts or summer cinema, attracted thousands of people to the site in previous years.
Komuna Warszawa Theater adapts the building and its surroundings to the needs of the local community, artists and participants in culture and urban life with minimal financial outlays. This kind of activity, based on the organic transformation of the already existing and built urban environment, resulting from the recognition of the needs of the people living there, building a space of coexistence with the biodiverse environment, is today an important element in planning and organizing a city resistant to the negative effects of civilization development.
Komuna Warszawa Theater proposes the establishment of the Socio-Cultural Quarter, as a space for urban innovation aimed at the well-being of residents, a place for the exchange of knowledge between diverse communities involved in creating solutions for the future of cities, and a new type of space for regeneration and leisure in a green enclave in the very center of Warsaw.
The Quarter project is being developed through cooperation with the architectural and urban planning community. Workshops on the Quarter are organized at the Komuna Warszawa Theater in cooperation with the Bęc Zmiana Foundation. They were conducted by, among others: Maciej Siuda, Bogna Świątkowska, Maciej Czeredys, Kuba Snopek, Centrala design studio.
