Rzeszow City Center
Poland
Rzeszow
Show description
Galeria Rzeszow City Center,
or how to stand out on the market
Bose International Planning & Architecture has designed the interiors of the newly constructed Galeria Rzeszow City Center, the largest investment in the region. The shopping mall includes over 200 shops and commercial points located on three levels. The work was commissioned by Ryszard Podkulski, the owner of the complex.
Competitive market
In Rzeszów, a medium-sized city, there already are several shopping malls, which compete with each other as their areas of interest overlap. Therefore, the character of the interiors would be crucial in positioning the mall in commercial and visual context of large commercial complexes. The layout of public spaces inside the complex was a subject of carefully discussed arrangements. The investor had high expectations as far as aesthetics is concerned. The character and appearance of public spaces would be one of the key aspects completing lease.
Conditioning of the existing building
When architects of Bose International started their work, it was a building shell. It was necessary to conduct research of current situation, of what had already been constructed. The basic task was to bring to light all the best of the existing condition and even enhance the building design.
The priorities of the concept design resulted to a great degree from conditioning of the building, such as relatively small amount of daylight in the public spaces. Owing to this fact, light became one of the key aspects. An important element which always must be taken into consideration while designing commercial public spaces is their uniformity and smooth flow of people inside the building. Those aspects have good influence on tenants' sales. The accepted aesthetics is very pragmatic and it assumes optimisation of tenant exhibition. It took a long time to work out the layout of the whole arrangement of public spaces and look for characteristic spots, extract or create the most attractive fragments.
The Feature Element in the Central Square
The panoramic lift is covered with light, open-work, multi-faceted structure and is the only defined dominant located in the central square. The square is the centre of fluently and plastically shaped space, a linear composition. The overlapping layers joining the square create multi-dimensional composition. The open-work cover of the lift shaft contains lighting creating special visual effects and water flowing into the fountain. The fountain may be transformed into a stage for fashion shows, concerts and other cultural events, thanks to a folding cover. The first successful transformation of the fountain into a stage took place during the opening of the mall.
The attracting light
The Bose architects were supported by renown illumination designers, Bliss Fassman company, with whom Bose International has cooperated for many years. They prepared a concept, which fits perfectly into the aesthetic balance of the structure. The task of the lighting arrangement was to provide clients with comfort, as there is insufficient amount of daylight. The mall is multi-levelled and that is why cared so much about attractive ceilings inviting clients to upper storeys.
According to criteria set by the investor, the building was to be balanced as far as power management is concerned and the fact that variable lighting projects were executed here may be evidence of the technological advancement of the building.
Uniformity of spaces
Reserved colour settings and white, monochromatic space help exposing shop windows. Whiteness is broken by light and geometry. Thanks to this it was possible to achieve an individual character of the space, which is outstanding in comparison with typical solutions. As soon as at the central square the theme concept was unveiled: the geometry of floors, way of shaping the fountain, linear recurrence and smoothness of ceiling gaps as well as finishing with white elements give a sense of lightness. The floors are light in colours - fluent stripes of materials in a balanced range of colours. Other geometrical forms refer to those floors. Fluent and linear character of ceilings allowed to create climate, which is hard to achieve with such insufficient daylight. Corridors are difficult elements to design and usually are done conventionally. In this case, thanks to openings in floor slabs, better lighting and recurring fluent geometry of lighting stretches, the corridors gained an interesting character.
The most characteristic feature of this design is uniformity of public spaces. There is no hierarchy, no better and worse spaces. Geometry of ceilings, layout of floors, details of railings, linear lighting stretches, soft openings in floor slabs - all that is consequently and smoothly continued in the entire complex.
Characteristic elements of the design
The central square is the showcase of the project. It includes a panoramic lift and escalators, connecting the floors. The courtyard is a place for performances and shows with an interesting arrangement. Another interesting place is the food court. The arrangement of spatial elements and the concept of changing illumination underline the distinction of the place between the food court and shopping area. It is a kind of stylistic answer and escape from conventional food court area cliché.
The style of the design was maintained consequently , meeting the multiple needs of the complex. Also, quick commercialisation and the presence of significant tenants were important factor.