Wroclavia replaces old coach station [PHOTOS]

On the former grounds of the PKS (coach) station, in the quarter of ul. Borowska, Dyrekcyjna, Sucha and Joanitów, a commercial and office complex with a coach station will rise. The shopping centre will be named Wroclavia.

"Wroclavia" combines a the city's modern spirit with the historic atmosphere" explains Arnaud Burlingame, Unibail-Rodamco's CE Managing Director.

Wratislavia - interactive model, photo: J.Ratajczak

The inspiration was a 300-year old oak

The new investment was presented during a press conference at the Museum of Architecture, with a special interactive mock-up model showing two floors and the two underground levels.

- The inspiration for the project was a tree - oak "Przewodnik" ("Guide"). The over 300-year-old, historic specimen that grows at the corner of ul. Borowska and Sucha, at the investment's premises, will be integrated into the building structure and will greet visitors at the main entrance" says Marek Borkowski, CEO of IMB Asymetria Architects.

Visualisation, source: the investor

Shopping centre with beehives on the roof

The new shopping and office facility will include 71 000 m sq of space available for lease. It will house 200 shops, the biggest cinema in Wroclaw (20 screens) and the first IMAX in Wroclaw, a food court, as well as high-class offices.

On the roof, between the office buildings' complex and the part where the restaurants, bars and the entrance to the cinema are- designed was a greenery with a garden. The investor stresses that he is fond of ecological solutions. Therefore, the facility is to use green energy and on the roof, in a special apiarium zone, there will be beehives.

Drivers will get 2 300 parking spaces at their disposal. Parking spaces will await cyclists, both outside and in the form of a roofed covered bike parking inside the building. According to the investor's estimates, the facility will have 13 million customers every year, and 1,500 people can find jobs there.

The building was designed by a Polish architects studio IMB Asymetria Architekci, who have already successfully designed, among others, shopping malls, public buildings, as well culture and art facilities. The interior of Wroclavia will be developed by a Parisian atelier Saguez&Partners.

Visualisation, source: the investor

Wroclavia with an underground coach station

The Wroclavia complex will be integrated with a 5 000 sq m modern bus station. The operator of the coach station will be company Polbus PKS. The bus platforms will be located at level -2. Contrary to the previous facility, the new one will not serve as a parking for coaches. The coach terminal hall with ticket offices will be located at level 0.

"The new station will be spacious, brightly lit and easily accessible both from the street as well as the commercial and office complex" explains Marek Borkowski.

Ul. Sucha (between Wroclavia and the main railway station) will become a boulevard leading to office buildings, shops and catering facilities.

The total investment cost amounts to 220 million euro, and the planned completion date is autumn 2017

Visualisation, source: the investor

Wroclaw first after Warsaw

Unibail-Rodamco is a listed European investment and development company. Its main business activities are large shopping centres in major European capitals and cities, and also offices and conference and exhibition centres, previously implemented in France. Currently, the company owns 82 top commercial buildings in major European cities.

The group focuses on high-quality commercial properties that meet customer demands and current expectations of modern architecture and urban development. The company is present in 12 EU countries and has assets valued at 34.6 billion euro at the end of 2014.

In Poland, Unibail-Rodamco owns, among others Warsaw shopping centres: Arkadia, Galeria Mokotów and Galeria Wileńska. Unibail-Rodamco is also the investor in Złote Tarasy shopping centre.