The architecture of harmony

In the face of constant change in modern cities, public spaces and urban architecture are becoming increasingly important, especially when it comes to integrating different social groups. Public spaces have always played a key role in shaping and managing the urban fabric. However, today, in an era of dynamic urban change and changing urban functions, it is cultural centres that form the structure of the city and introduce new functions to the life of the urban community.

Over the past decades, thanks to a growing awareness of the importance of public spaces for local communities, many cities around the world have intensified their efforts to create more open, accessible urban spaces that have the potential to activate society. This approach reflects changing priorities towards more sustainable and inclusive urban development.

In the face of contemporary challenges, the design of cultural facilities requires a shift away from the concept of isolation towards the creation of open, accessible places. Instead of acting as bastions, such spaces invite people to engage in dialogue and cooperation once again, becoming an integral part of the urban landscape. One such building in an urban setting is the new concert hall of the State Primary and Secondary Music School in the southern Polish city of Jastrzębie-Zdrój. This building was designed by the SLAS Architekci studio from Katowice, by architects Aleksander Bednarski and Mariusz Komraus.

The building harmoniously combines bold material choices with innovative architectural solutions, creating a unique space. The massive structure, distinguished by its impressive size, simultaneously exudes subtlety and elegance, attracting attention and becoming a new landmark of the city. The use of materials that refer to the city's industrial heritage, combined with a modern, minimalist design, emphasises the context of the place and aspirations for the future. The main urban planning objective of the project was to properly arrange the relationship between the main functional elements of the building, such as the concert hall, foyer, school and public space. The newly created concert hall was designed not only to meet specific programme needs, but also to transform the existing space, giving it a new, multi-faceted and public character.

“The design is the result of well-considered urban analyses and the influences of the surroundings. We paid particular attention to the dual spa and industrial context of the location”, comments Aleksander Bednarski. “Furthermore, due to the limited space of the plot itself, it was necessary to design a building that adheres to the transport system. All these aspects – location, functionality and interaction with the surroundings – had a decisive influence on the final appearance of the building. This was not only the result of our artistic initiative, but above all the effect of a design process embedded in real needs and urban contexts.”

“In our approach to design, we emphasise the creation of space that not only responds to the needs of users but also fits into the urban context. Our analyses are multidimensional and focus on various aspects of use and integration with the environment. We reject the pursuit of spectacularity in favour of more subtle but equally significant architectural interventions”, adds Mariusz Komraus.

The building is distinguished by its modern, minimalist form, achieved through the use of industrial facade sheet metal. This simple yet innovative choice of material gives the building a distinctive appearance that attracts the attention of passers-by. The sheet metal, chosen for practical reasons, not only ensures aesthetics, but also durability and resistance to damage, making it ideal for public buildings. Furthermore, the aesthetic aspect matches the function of the building, it is meant to stand out in the surroundings and attract attention with its unusual appearance and role.

“We were interested in how this material allows us to subtly weave the surroundings into the building's facade”, explains Aleksander Bednarski. “In addition, the choice of this material was also guided by economic considerations. It turned out to be affordable, in some cases even cheaper than alternative solutions such as clinker, while offering similar, if not better, anti-vandalism properties. Its industrial character also makes it relatively easy to install.”

“The use of corrugated, mirrored facade sheet metal not only visually neutralises the mass of the building, but also enriches it with detail”, Mariusz Komraus points out. “This structure, although it reflects the surroundings, introduces ‘deformations’. Through such reflections, the building subtly interacts with its surroundings, creating a kind of dialogue not through literalness, but through a distorted reflection of the environment.”

The shop windows are one of the key elements of the design, especially because of their role in connecting the newly extended part with the existing school complex and the street. In addition, they also serve as a communication channel with the outside world, inviting passers-by to interact. They form a kind of gateway to the foyer area, which is to become a centre of artistic activity in the future.

“Here, we will find a café that serves as a meeting place and a place to relax, but it is also used as a regional gallery for artwork. This multifunctionality means that the windows not only serve as a means of illuminating the interior, but also as a display window that integrates the building with its surroundings. In this way, passers-by can see the life and activity of the building”, clarifies Mariusz Komraus.

“The multifunctional use of the building's interior space, which can adapt to the different needs of users, emphasises the flexibility and openness of the architecture to various forms of activity. Such design decisions contribute to the creation of spaces that live together with the city and its inhabitants, offering them real benefits on a daily basis”, adds Aleksander Bednarski.

What is interesting, and may not be obvious at first glance, is the fact that the new hall is in fact an extension of the school. The element connecting the two buildings is a link placed unobtrusively under the stairs. This creates a physical, but subtly concealed connection between the new and old structures. The architects also wanted to preserve the individuality of each building, allowing them to have their own clearly defined zones. It was also decided to reorganise the traffic flow around the buildings. The introduction of a new entrance gate between the two buildings creates a symbolic and functional connection, facilitating access and creating a new landmark for users. The new square not only has a representative function, but also becomes a place for meetings, recreation and rest, complemented by a redesigned green area.

“Removing the fence around the school was one of our key actions aimed at opening the institution to the needs of the local community”, says Mariusz Komraus. “This step symbolises our commitment to creating public spaces that are accessible and functional even outside the operating hours of a given institution. This design philosophy is embedded in each of our projects, as long as conditions allow it. This approach means that these spaces can serve the city and its residents more fully, supporting the dynamics of social life.”

“Putting this idea into practice can take many forms, even as small as creating a small square with benches”, states Aleksander Bednarski. “Despite their apparent simplicity, such resting places are of great importance to the local community, allowing for a moment of relaxation in a safe public space. The sight of people resting there, especially the elderly, whose social life is often limited to the closest places, is proof of the value and success of the project.”

Concrete was chosen for the concert hall, due to its excellent structural, acoustic and aesthetic properties. For economic reasons, additional acoustic cladding was not used, leaving the reinforced concrete coloured with glaze paint as the finish for the main acoustic design of the hall and the other walls in the building. The search for an economic compromise ultimately contributed to visual coherence through the use of a wave-like pattern that appears on the facade, in the foyer and in the concert hall.

The concert hall was officially opened and named after the patron during a festive concert on 3 March 2022 to mark the school's 30th anniversary. The concert hall has impressive dimensions: 15,500 cubic metres, 30 metres long and 29 metres wide, with seating for 362 people. Acoustics experts refer to the hall as a small ‘NOSPR’ (Narodowej Orkiestry Symfonicznej Polskiego Radia or Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra) because of its excellent sound properties, which were overseen by acoustic consultant Andrzej Kłosak from the Krakow University of Technology. To date, the project has been honoured with a number of prestigious awards, including the Award in the OBIEKT category and the Grand Prix of the Architecture of the Year of the Silesian Voivodeship 2022 competition, the Main Award of the Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship Jakub Chełstowski in the competition for the Best Public Space of the Silesian Voivodeship 2022, the SARP Award of the Year 2022 in the category: cultural building and Grand Prix (ex aequo), the Internet Users' Award of the 2021, the Architectural Award of the Polityka weekly and a nomination for the 2023 Mies van der Rohe Award. These distinctions are the best confirmation of the building's excellence and significance for Polish architecture and urban planning.

© All images: Jakub Certowicz