budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
all images courtesy of budcud

 

 

 

for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ‘jewish culture festival‘ in krakow, located in the historical district of kazimierz — the jewish quarter of the city, budcud designed a temporary public space called the ‘FKŻ quarter’ in one of the few empty squares left in the district.

 

the ‘FKŻ quarter’ was created as an architectural device to help bring social life to a site mostly occupied by cars, monuments and commercial activities. located on the back of the old synagogue at dajwor street, the site — a green lawn with a natural slope — was the perfect place to build this temporary space created by multiple objects organized around the central elevated square. 

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
view from the street level

 

 

 

budcub introduces a petite urban situation where the locals interact with the tourists. the three different volumes (a social library, a cafe and a tourist agency) surround the central platform that can become a stage, dance floor, classroom or open-air sitting area. a table tennis zone is connected to a wider green lawn where matkot, a beach sport from israel, takes place.

 

all structures are made from wooden beams, thick plywood  and corrugated plastic plates, that play harmoniously with the bright yellow floor. its transparent walls and roofs provide natural light inside and also work as eye-catching urban lighthouses during the night. due to its elevation, the platform is also used as a bench.

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
view towards the table tennis zone of the quarter 

 

 

 

the ‘FKŻ quarter’ opens up a new possibility of social engagement by providing an architectural frame in a forgotten public square, bringing it back to life.

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
roofscape situation

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the platform serves as open-air reading room

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the social library with open-air reading room

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the inside of the cafe

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the inside of tourist agency pavilion

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the quarter as an urban lantern

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the FKŻ quarter’s axonometric view

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the plan with pavilions docked to the central platform

budcud revives an old square in krakow for the 25th jewish culture festival
the FKŻ quarter’s section

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: juliana neira | designboom