The Park The project redefines the role of contemporary public space by creating a new destination that combines landscape, water, sport, and collective experience within a single, coherent environment. Located in the southern part of Kraków, the proposal transforms a fragmented and underutilized area into a large-scale district sports and recreation center with a strong public character and regional reach. Rather than designing a traditional park or a standalone sports complex, the project establishes a layered spatial system that integrates everyday use with event-driven intensity.

Water forms the central element of the composition. Outdoor swimming pools, a large retention pond with an island, and the potential use of the nearby Rzewny stream create a continuous water landscape that structures the entire site. This system not only supports recreation and seasonal transformation — including the conversion of the Olympic pool into an ice rink — but also improves microclimatic conditions, enhances biodiversity, and increases rainwater retention. Around this water framework, the park unfolds as a sequence of open and accessible spaces designed for a wide range of users. Informal paths, recreational zones, and garden areas coexist with sports infrastructure, including tennis courts, playing fields, a skate park, and outdoor fitness areas. The landscape is conceived as an active ground, supporting both movement and rest, from daily walks to intensive physical activity.

A key element of the project is the multi-purpose indoor arena, designed to accommodate up to 3,000 spectators. The building introduces a metropolitan scale to the site, enabling the organization of concerts, events, and sports competitions, and positioning The Park as a destination beyond the local neighborhood. Despite its scale, the architecture remains embedded in the landscape, maintaining visual continuity and openness. The project is developed in stages, allowing for gradual implementation and adaptation within the framework of existing planning regulations.

The first phase focuses on the outdoor pool complex and water landscape, while the second phase introduces the full program of sports, recreation, and the indoor arena. The Park operates across multiple scales — from the individual experience of nature and rest, through everyday recreational use, to large public gatherings. By integrating ecological strategies, public accessibility, and diverse programmatic elements, it creates a resilient and inclusive environment that responds to both local needs and wider regional dynamics. Rather than a singular object, The Park is conceived as a living public landscape — a place defined by water, activity, and continuous transformation.

PROJECT DATA
Project: The Park
Type: District Sports and Recreation Center
Location: Kraków, Poland

Site Area: 96,200 m²
Phase I Area (pool zone): 33,235 m²
Water Surface (pond): 7,717 m²
Total Pond Area: 7,958 m²

Outdoor Pools Capacity: 518 users
Ice Rink Capacity (seasonal): 312 users
Indoor Arena Capacity: up to 3,000 spectators

Parking: 223 underground parking spaces

DESIGN TEAM
Lead Architect / Author:
Przemysław Cepielik

Design Team:
Kinga Krakowska-Tokarczyk
Maria Kulig
Luiza Grzegółka-Pacyga

Landscape Architect:
Karolina Kolano

Visualization:
ArchioViz – George Ryabinin

STATUS
Project Stage: Concept Design
Date: December 2025

Studio: Eklekt Atelier
Website: eklekt.pl