Krakow is growing. There are more and more public buildings and offices at a high level of civilization development. The office building of the joint stock company ASCO S.A., designed by Barycz & Saramowicz Design Office, is among those which have recently obtained an occupancy permit.
The authors of the building, Rafał Barycz, Ph.D. in Architecture, and Paweł Saramowicz, Ph.D. in Architecture, are convinced of the economic role of architecture, saying: “In the competitive market of office buildings, the inclusion of advanced telecommunication networks, HVACR installations and other achievements of today's technology is the civilization standard, but it is not enough to attract a particular tenant. Therefore the best office buildings must be distinguished by a tasteful, remarkable architectural form, which becomes a kind of architectural marketing, and the building itself - an emblem, demonstrating the economic power of the investor. Today, the number of aware investment companies is increasing, and they see architecture as an offensive market tool”.
The facade of the building, composed with mathematical precision, although located between poetry and rationality, was executed using slender, horizontal ceramic cladding tiles NBK Keramik. Additionally, modern abstract rustication was introduced here, made of brushed stainless steel. The synthesized image of the building, which with its modern architecture is supposed to have a strong impact on the environment, was achieved by large-sized screens of the brise-soleil function, having the character of futuristic pilaster strips, placed on its facade in a rhythmic architectural order. The building tightly fills the urban fabric and its scale and architectural articulation refer to the character of the street urban interior, largely formed by the pre-war buildings.
The building has a privileged location in the heart of Kraków, the former capital of Poland. It is located at the junction of Plac Bohaterów Getta (Ghetto Heroes Square, formerly Zgody) and Kącik street. There is a special historical background to this place. During World War II, Plac Zgody was the spot from which the German Nazis deported Jews from the occupied Krakow to death camps. Kącik street goes towards the former Oskar Schindler's “Emalia” factory. These events were portrayed in the famous film “Schindler's List” (dir. Steven Spielberg, 1993).
ASCO office building is situated only 2000 meters from the Market Square in Kraków. In the past, Zabłocie, where the building is located, was the worst district of the city, and today – it is becoming one of the best ones. This proves the potency of architecture. In place of the degraded post-industrial spaces, significant public buildings have been built here in recent years, such as the campus of the Kraków Academy, the seat of the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts of this University, MOCAK - the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków; multifamily residential complexes including lofts.
According to Barycz and Saramowicz, when planning office buildings, it is essential to ensure adequate comfort of mental work: ergonomics of space, good insolation, modulating the psychophysical climate of the interior with the brise-soleil elements, a beautiful view. In the office building of ASCO S.A., Venetian windows, all with portes-fenêtres, give users a magnificent panorama on the Vistula Boulevards, Kazimierz district and the Old City of Kraków. They make the building sunny. In addition, the last floor of the building houses terraces. Subject to the growing needs of the modern economy, flexibility of the layout and freedom to shape office space play a major role for tenants.
According to Barycz and Saramowicz, modern structures, sophisticated in technical and aesthetic terms, are the future of the emerging market of office buildings.
Rafał Barycz, Ph.D. in Architecture
Paweł Saramowicz, Ph.D. in Architecture
