Two-stage architectural and urban development competition for the concept of the Stanisław Wyspiański Museum in Kraków.

Participants:
Adam Kozak, Małgorzata Pietras-Kozak, PlasmaProject spółka cywilna.
Anna Maląg, MAAG Anna Maląg

GENERAL IDEA:
The newly designed block is located in the vicinity of the National Museum Main Building and the context of the Museum Quarter. It borders the buildings of the Żaczek Student House and is in direct contact with the representative square space of the National Museum. The building, though distinctive, does not compete with the dominant modernist building of the National Museum.
The building has a simple form resulting from the shape of the plot, its height is similar to the neighbouring building of the National Museum and thanks to that it does not constitute a strong contrast. The front elevation of the new building is set back from the axis of the seventh pillar of the Main Building, thus exposing its oldest part.
It is planned to connect the existing museum with the newly designed building through a link at level -1.
In front of the building there will be a garden, Stanisław Wyspiański's garden, where plants immortalized by the artist in his herbarium will grow.
The main design consideration is to combine a simple form with a striking element that flows in line. A ribbon of stained glass runs in the floor of the plaza on the garage leading to the main entrance.
It goes to the front elevation and the roof of the building. The ribbon plane in the floor will be made of transparent, safe glass elements with a porous structure - anti-slip. Ribbon
the stained-glass window in the niche of the front elevation will be reflected in the floor of the museum. The reflected light will lead us to the "heart" of the museum where the stained glass boxes will be exhibited. Light also plays an important role. At night the ribbon is illuminated and has an aesthetic function, it attracts attention and changes the social approach to the museum. It is not an institution living only during the day, thanks to the light it comes alive at night, life in and around the museum goes on around the clock. The colors of the stained glass refer to Wyspiański's works, the leading colors are blue, green and yellow. As a facade material large-format stoneware panels imitating stone or quartz sinters in graphite have been selected.
On the elevation stained-glass inserts in the form of 'ribbon'. Stained glass ribbon is a motif inspired by Wyspianski's paintings, such element appears in many of his works.

FUNCTIONAL SOLUTIONS IN THE INTERIORS:
The building has 4 overground floors and 1 underground floor. The heart of the exhibition occupies the central part of the exhibition space.
First floor level:
The main entrance to the museum is on axis with the "heart of the museum". In the lobby space a void is designed through all the floors. The hall is a flexible space where many functions are located: a relaxation zone, a café, a bookshop and the entrance to the main exhibition area. The heart of the exhibition are exposed cardboard boxes with Stanisław Wyspiański's stained glass designs, around which a ramp wraps. It makes it possible to view the boxes from different heights and from different perspectives. It is designed in such a way as to ensure comfortable use of the facility by persons with various forms of disability.
Level +1,+2,+3:
On levels +1 and +2 there are educational rooms. The majority of the space at levels +1 and +2 is taken up by exhibition space. Level +3 is entirely devoted to exhibition space. On each floor, the exhibition space can be completely separated and darkened when necessary, or left open to the lobby. Design solutions also allow for elimination of the part devoted to temporary exhibitions in the northern part of the building by the storage shaft, at this stage the gallery space is left completely open.
At level +1 and + 2 exhibition and communication spaces are open to the hall and protected by a glass barrier. Level + 3 will be separated from the lobby by a full-height glass wall. On all exhibition spaces under the ceiling a technical grid of "duo system" type construction has been designed in the module of 3 x 3 m.
The grid can be fitted with exhibition lighting, exhibits and modular walls to divide the exhibition space as desired. On each floor next to the exhibition areas there are technical rooms located by the freight elevator.
At the level of the ceiling between the second and third storey in the soul of the lobby, it is designed to locate three movable bridges - intended for hanging exhibits, lighting and AV equipment.
The bridges will be made of aluminum, modular construction, e.g. "tri system". (6 m long).
On the third floor, along the front wall from inside the building, he designs a technical platform made of steel profiles and a floor of aesthetic perforated metal sheet. On the platform there is a possibility of installing mechanical devices - winches, which will enable lowering of individual bridges to the hall floor level. Only technical staff will have access to the technical platform. Using AV devices mounted to the bridges, large-format projections onto the walls of the lobby are envisaged. Two sanitary units are foreseen on each overground storey for museum guests on both sides of the building. The interior colors, ranging from white to grey on the floors, walls and ceilings, will serve as a background for the rich work of Stanisław Wyspiański
Roof Level:
On the roof there is a cafe with the possibility of a year-round winter garden. In summer the terrace at the front of the building will also be used. The remaining roof space behind the café can be used as a technical space for installing ventilation units with heat recovery, air-conditioning units, air pumps, photovoltaic panels and other solutions improving the ecological functions of the building.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATION:
In the entrance hall area through all above-ground floors, a decorative glass elevator staircase was designed. Two enclosed evacuation staircases were also designed and a fire escape through all floors of the building.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION:
On the northern side there is an entrance to the underground garage and a delivery zone - a goods lift on the overground storeys.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:
Monolithic, reinforced concrete, column and slab structure. Elements stiffening the structure: technical elevator shafts and external wall shields. In the exhibition parts, it is possible to increase the span from the adopted structural grid by using channel plates made of prestressed concrete or prestressed concrete. The design solutions adopted in this study comply with current regulations, standards and principles of technical knowledge.