Warsaw
Description
The Srodmiescie WKD Station Pavilion is a canopy structure part of the Warsaw Commuter Railway WKD Terminus. Located in Warsaw city centre, belongs to Poland’s capital Cross-City railway Line and is under the Polish Railway Administration management.
Designed by Arseniusz Romanowicz and Piotr Szymaniak in 1956, the structure was not built until 1963. Srodmiescie WKD Station, together with four other stations: Central Station, Ochota, Powiśle, and Stadium. creates a unique architectural development, that carefully renovated is still in use and perfectly serves its function.
Each of the station buildings was given a different form, which was a direct result of structural systems applied. Architects and engineers decided that they would search for a construction system, which would suit the station’s functional needs, always based on reinforced concrete thin-shells of different, unique shapes.
Designed by Arseniusz Romanowicz and Piotr Szymaniak in 1956, the structure was not built until 1963. Srodmiescie WKD Station, together with four other stations: Central Station, Ochota, Powiśle, and Stadium. creates a unique architectural development, that carefully renovated is still in use and perfectly serves its function.
Each of the station buildings was given a different form, which was a direct result of structural systems applied. Architects and engineers decided that they would search for a construction system, which would suit the station’s functional needs, always based on reinforced concrete thin-shells of different, unique shapes.
Each of the station buildings was given a different form, which was a direct result of structural systems applied. Architects and engineers decided that they would search for a construction system, which would suit the station’s functional needs, always based on reinforced concrete thin-shells of different, unique shapes.
Besides Srodmiescie WKD Station not being the more important one of the five stations in terms of operation, it is the one that best matches the purposes of the project scope and its history is directly linked to the other four structures.
The station was designed for commuter and regional traffic, complementary to the Central Station, operating long-haul domestic and international connections. The station (platforms, ticket office etc.) is beneath the level of the street. The only part which is visible from the ground level is the reinforced concrete thin-shell canopy, which covers the stairs leading to the platform.
Originally, stairs on both ends of the platform were covered with reinforced concrete canopies, but only one of the two structures has survived to our times. The western structure was removed in the early 1990s to make room for the Swede Centre office building.