Rabka Zdroj (Spa) is a popular Polish resort. The Silesian Rehabilitation and Spa Centre (SCRU) built here in 1949 was designed by Stanislaw Gruszka in the International Style, which was innovative at that time. The park surrounding the spa building has interesting tree specimens laid out according to a simple geometrical principle with free fillers. In the west part, the path arrangement is geometrical with three symmetrical gardens on rectangular terraces, and in the form of three figures, three graces with huge earrings in their ears. Whereas in the south part, its form of abstract winding paths is quite unique, resembling a totem placed horizontally. The research conducted shows that the shapes applied here and the deformed symmetry may refer to the works of Jean Miró, Alexander Calder or Hans Arp. The project’s author was related to the community of Warsaw artists fascinated with futurism and surrealism in the 20 years of Poland’s independence after World War I. In the late 1940s the destructive influence of the communist ideology did not yet manage to leave its mark on the architecture of the structure discussed, and thus the place was given its unique beauty. Nowadays the park is being revitalized and its implementation has gained financial support from the EU. The leitmotif for the revitalization is to emphasize its surrealistic forms. There is created a multi-layered narrative structure with an emphasized outline of plant field paths and surrealistic benches and deckchairs especially designed. Educational paths are designed to discuss various topics, like the history of modernist spa buildings in Malopolska (Little Poland – a province in the south of Poland, whose capital is Cracow), the history of Polish poster design in the 20 years of Poland’s independence between WWI and WWII, as well as the park’s natural aspects. Another abstract idea will also be found in the Rabka Code, a game enabling to develop tasks of one’s own choice to be solved in the field. It should be stressed that a surrealistic path layout is a very rare solution in the history of park architecture. Even if parks may have surrealistic sculptures, the surrounding area usually retains its modernist, simple geometrical form or naturalistic shape.
Implementation design for development of the park by the Silesian Rehabilitation and Spa Centre in Rabka
Design - 2018, Implementation – 2019-2020
Investor: The Dr. Adam Szebesta Silesian Rehabilitation and Spa Centre
Design: Krzysztof Rostański, Lechosław Rostański, Tadeusz Czerwiński, Roman Biernot, Stanisław Stanek, Edward Moroz, Stanisław Trocer, Małgorzata Karolak, Marek Grąbczewski, Pracownia HORTUS Katowice
Implementation financed by EU funds (2nd place in the competition of the Marshal of the Małopolska Region for financing in 2019)
Wirek - district of Ruda Śląska has long and interesting history. Up to now one can find remains of old factories, spoil heaps having sometimes peculiar shape, settlements for workers from XIX century, old buildings, churches, traces of old peoples affords.
Count Lazarus Henckel von Donnesmark built in 1805 steel factory “Antonienhutte” (to the memory of his wife). Nearby built coal mine “Gottessegen” (God blessing). Factory was working till 90. of XIX century. From 1812 was working zinc factory “Hugo” and “Liebe-Hoffnung". There were running zinc rolling mill “Antonine”either. The place of present park is the zinc spoil heap left by “Liebe-Hoffnung" zinc factory which was closed in 1925. There were competition in schools for the name of the place. Finally won the name Góra Antonia (Antonia Hill).
On the middle of heap top is designed view point in form of hill about 5 m high with installed lunette, some benches and educational path point. Around the playing field is designed low dike with tubes-tunnels for children play. Furthermore to the west are placed grill area under canopy of birches. Places for grill stands have form of gravel square pits surrounded by timber kerbs. Dark basalt gravel correspond to zinc slag but is not contaminated. Stands for grill are separated by the dashed lines of miscanthus. That is giving sense of intimacy providing kind of green wall maze for children play. On the hill top are designed concrete hammocks. These constructions will have timber cover suitable to sit on and handles to mount own hammock. Leaving hammock for days in open space could be not reasonable because of possible vandalism and high fall of furnaces dust which makes textile dirty, especially during rainfall. Concrete boxes with two deck chairs in each provide intimate space, with view outlined by edge of box. There are boards of educational path with information about local history, industrial revolution, zinc production technology, features of spoil heap material and metallophyte plants, spontaneous flora, birds living around and area information system. To the south of main path are located three iron factory vats on the slag spot. On the east border is BMX circus with form of round dike with ramps about 2m high, with walls suited to bike extreme rides and jumps. The playground to the south has timber construction in the form of industrial structure with some connotations to coal mine lift tower, drift or some iron and zinc factory dwellings. Additionally various slides and modern play equipment which may be associated with industry but giving the same time high quality play proposition were built in various places.
As the most important tools leading to development of the area of Antonia Hill were taken remediation, phytostabilization, enhancement of biodiversity, support of natural succession, social participation, ecological education, health friendly way of life. Main problem and target of actions designed for area of zinc spoil heap in Ruda Śląska is the soil contamination and the process of the situation improving with remediation, to reach safe recreation open space there. Additional targets are: to mitigate dangerous sharp and high crags on the northern heap edge; build possibly low cost in maintaining leisure infrastructure with possibly broad offer, vandalism resistible, and with deep connections with local identity and history. Remediation of topsoil in the area concerned is provided by phytostabilization on the top of spoil heap with use of brown coal and fertilizers and covering northern slopes with clay and new soil layers. On southern slope is providing gradual exchange of plant cover. There is used special mixture of grasses with ability to keep heavy metals down in root system. Some parts of spoil heap were marked with kerbs and with left xerophilic or dry preferring plant communities of metallophyte plants. They are native and common for regional flora.
Implementation design for „Revitalization of the zinc spoil heap in Ruda Śląska near 1 Maja street" as a part of the project: Implementation of Sustainable Land Use in Integrated Environmental Management of Functional Urban Areas - LUMAT.
Design - 2017, Implementation - 2018
Investor: Municipality Ruda Śląska
Design: Krzysztof Rostański, Lechosław Rostański, Bożena Bronicka, Michał Chrapek, Marek Marzec, Pracownia HORTUS Katowice
Consultation: Marta Pogrzeba
Educational paths: Krzysztof Rostański, Adam Rostański, Magdalena Żmudzińska-Nowak, Iwona Jonczy
Akademicka Street is the main alley crossing the area of University of Technology in Gliwice. Rector prof. Andrzej Karbownik decided of transforming the common street into pedestrian zone to consolidate life of the University. That met good response of municipality. The footpath is connecting now area of Sport and Entertainment Centre (under construction). First step of transformation was national students competition. Many different views compiled into conception plan Tomasz Bradecki. Implementation plan was led by Andrzej Kozielski. My role was to create greenery composition joining various parts of the place. The main element - pawed ellipse with the fountain was copied in the form of shrub plantations on the western part behind Krzywoustego Street. Second binding element is the strip of Euonymus shrubs starting near the fountain and finishing, after little jump, on the western side encompass lawn square dedicated for students events. In the middle of composition are grass beds with some ornamental pear and cherry trees. Multiplied element, which appeared on various places is square of Japanese spirea collected in groups. In spring they are giving yellow pattern and in autumn - red, on the background of lawn. Squares are leitmotiv of the whole area derived from students competition designs. Dispersed accents underline some directions, culminations and entrances. Lawn is covering little hills and give opportunity to spend time in sweet leisure.
Implementation plan for reconstruction of Akademicka Street as pedestrian zone in Gliwice - Greenery Design
Conception plan - 2011, dr arch. Tomasz Bradecki
Implementation plan - 2011-2013, Robiprojekt Gliwice, arch. Andrzej Kozielski
Greenery conception and design - 2011-2013, prof. arch. Krzysztof Rostański
Implementation - 09.2014
Investor: Silesian University of Technology / Gliwice Municipality
August 2015
Rebuild of Akademicka Street awarded with special prize of Ministry of Infrastructure and Development for Modernization of the Year
From the late 90. area around the church in Zabrze-Konczyce (designer Jan Kubec)and its surroundings are developed as the city square. General division into rectangles were given by Jan Kubec with overall idea what should be there. From 2002 I'm filing that parts trying to follow this idea to keep the building and its surrounding as one unitary structure. At September 2015 that place received name of Cardinal August Hlond - primary Polish bishop in Silesia after restoring independence in 1918. Parts of the Park:
- Square of Remembrance
- St Mary Garden - with hills enclosing place for the figure
- Heavenly Meadow - with ornamental plants
- Rectory Garden - with outlines of old not existing chapel and the cross in place of former altar; there are boulders because “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out”
- Blessing Square - now in form of meadow
- Paradise Garden - with some blooming trees
The park is the only in the district and really popular, maybe because of possibility of walking on grass here.
Cardinal August Hlond Park in Zabrze
Design - 2002-2015, Implementation of II Stage - 2015
Investor: Zabrze Municipality
Design: Krzysztof Rostański, Pracownia HORTUS, Katowice
Cooperation: Jan Kubec, Lechosław Rostański, Stanisław Stanek, Bożena Bronicka
Październik 2009
Wyróżnienie Marszałka Województwa Śląskiego w konkursie organizowanym przez Zarząd Województwa Śląskiego we współpracy z SARP O.Katowice - Najlepsza Przestrzeń Publiczna Województwa Śląskiego.
Kategoria Urbanistyka: Renowacja zieleńca oraz terenów wokół Kościoła Parafialnego w Zabrzu - Kończycach
Design is an art of compromising. Sometimes successful. Little less if is under pressure of economy or deadlines. Success enjoys even while reached partly, more or less.
Krzysztof Rostański
Discovery Park and Garden on the Rooftop, Copernicus Science Centre, Warsaw
Akademicka Pedestrian Zone, Gliwice
Cardinal August Hlond Park in Zabrze
