OVO Wroclaw

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

OVO WROCLAW

 Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture

LOCATION
Wroclaw, Poland

CATEGORY
 Institutional  Buildings

PHOTOGRAPHS
Kamil Czaja

PROJECT YEAR
2016

AREA
50000.0 m2

MANUFACTURERS
Aluprof, Axelpro, Corian® Design, Corian® Exteriors, Fast, Phiips, Pierinelli, Tmk Projekt

Text description provided by architect.

OVO Wroclaw by Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture is a mixed-use, grandiose “blob-like”architectural structure combining residential, commercial, hospitality and retail spaces in the heart of Poland’s fourth-largest city, Wroclaw.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

The OVO Wroclaw is a landmark edifice spearheading a revolution in urban Polish design. Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture won the commissions following an international competition and in 2008, their blueprint won the MIPM Future Projects Award for Retail & Leisure.,

The OVO Wroclaw creates a new vision of urban living that unites 180 luxury residences, a five -star DoubleTree by Hilton with 180 rooms and suites, corporate offices with high-end retails aces within a modern and sleek rounded exterior that seamlessly blends the cured lines of the building with a stylish minimalism that typifies the interior spaces.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

The amorphsc design that was envision requires alternative building techniques in order to be properly realized. After considering various options, Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture chose to clad the building in Corian panels.

According to Asaf Gottesman, the particular form of the building is a result of the traditional urban guidelines of the city of Wroclaw and the desire to envelop the diverse set of spatial requirements within a unified skin.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

Asaf Gottesman comments: “Designing the OVO was a group undertaking, a process of research that required several members of the practice to contribute from their accumulated experience, technical skills and emotional intellectual sensibility. To varying degrees, OVO Wroclaw is a sculpture, an expression of culture and manifestation of optimism, a functional and efficient building, a social and cultural generator; a miniature city.”

Within the OVO Wroclaw is a Double Tree by Hilton, featuring 190 spacious and sophisticated rooms, a magnificent ballroom and state-of-the-art conference and meeting room facilities.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

OVO Wroclaw’s 5000-square-meter retail space is the city’s most sophisticated leisure piazzas with a massive inner-green courtyard that will host cultural events throughout the year.

Gottesman-Szmelcman Architecture has created a unique and superbly designed environment that holistically integrates living, culture, business and commerce in the heart of the metropolis. The truly stunning architectural form has already made the building a landmark in the city’s skinned and visual repertoire.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

There are in essence 3 products that need to be seen as integral to the design of the OVO.

The first is Corian which we chose because it enabled us to translate our architectural vision, without the usual compromises, in the most effective way.

In order to maintain the fluid form of the building we could not opt for the regular panel systems that invariably underline divisions. Plastering was also not an option because it would be impossible to maintain perfect curvatures throughout and maintenance would be an issue in the longer term.

We needed a material that was both flexible, could be thermo formed to accommodated double curvatures, resilient and easy to maintain. Corian delivered the perfect solution for us.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja
OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja

The second material was Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum which enabled us to continue the form of the exterior into the internal spaces. Apart from the exceptionally skilled plasterers, the GFRG preformed "volcanos" lighting enabled us to harmonize the lighting with the interior design throughout the project.

The third material was the thin walnut veneer strips that we used to continue the curvatures that we had achieved with the Corian and GFRG while introducing a rich textural warmth to key internal areas.

OVO Wroclaw
© Kamil Czaja


OVO Wroclaw
Elevation
OVO Wroclaw
Elevation
OVO Wroclaw
Elevation


OVO Wroclaw
Section
OVO Wroclaw
Lounge Plan
OVO Wroclaw
Section


OVO Wroclaw
Level -1
OVO Wroclaw
Level -1
OVO Wroclaw
Level -2
OVO Wroclaw
Ground Level
OVO Wroclaw
Level 3
OVO Wroclaw
Level 4
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Level 5
OVO Wroclaw
Level 6