Nowolipki

 Housing

@. Nowolipki

architect. ?

finished. 1950's ?

Lessons learned.

1. Lemon yellow is an intriguing color

2. Saving on interior corridor space doesn't necessarily transfer into better quality of life for inhabitants (check

    out those grates in the windows)

3. I do appreciate the environment/budget friendly built in clothes drying racks

Baraboo

Restaurant. Bar

@. Karmelicka 17

architect.

finished. 2007

This uber-modern italian restaurant took the place of a laundry from the sixties. It has a great location facing the 'Park Bohaterow Ghetta' (Ghetto Heroes Park) and the architecture fully takes advantage of this. First is the terrace, a simple wood deck, no railing and just one step above the sidewalk. Second a wall of giant glass sliding doors that let in the warm summer breeze. Third, a rectangular open dining room with a sofa-bench facing the glass wall. And finally an open kitchen set behind a glass half-wall. There are nice views in every direction, unusual for a restaurant where half the table always has to face the wall. Here you either face the action of the kitchen or the lush park. On one side of the long, narrow dining room is a bar and on the other a cube which houses the bathroom. The designer had some fun here. There is no light switch. A motion sensor slowly grades the light set into a corner. The floors and walls are covered with shiny, black mosaic tile and a giant mirror set in the ceiling adds to the surreal feel.

ps. the food is pretty good too

Memorial Plaques

@. everywhere, keep your eyes peeled
artist. I'm not sure, I think they were a citizen-based initiative
finished. I think it's an ongoing project, it started in the 50's

There are 300+ plaques located on walls and small monuments throughout the city. They are ubiquitous, you can easily pass them by without seeing them but when you start paying attention you see they are everywhere. And once you understand what they commemorate the horror of occupation becomes a little more understandable. They commemorate places related to the Warsaw Uprising and the lives lost in Warsaw due to German occupation terror, especially street executions. These mini war memorials are actively remembered and often have fresh flowers and candles placed on them.

Muranow

Neighborhood

@. between Okopowa, Solidarnosci, Stawki, Miodowa

architect. Bochdan Lachert

finished. 1950's

Muranow has a sad history. It was the site of a Jewish neighborhood before WWII and then the Jewish Ghetto which afterwards was razed to the ground. See photo. In the future it will be the site of the Jewish History Museum. The neighborhood was rebuilt after the war in Socialist-realist style. The buildings are finished with classical details and the public space around them is well proportioned.The streets and courtyards have a human scale, cars are secondary. The are between Stawki, Andersa, Solidarnosci and Jaa Pawla is an excellent place for a walk. The courtyards are pedestrian friendly, well maintained and in the summer overflowing with flowers. It is a place that works well urbanistically. Schools are frequently placed at the center of  the city blocks, surrounded by green playgrounds. There are plenty of trees, green spaces and 'guerilla gardens' appropriated by zealous gardeners from the surrounding apartments. 

Great site about Muranow. 

Walk - Muranow

Just a suggestion for getting to know Muranow. While on the other side of Andersa get a feel for pre-war Warsaw. In Muranow stray off the route and check out the courtyards. You have two options if you get hungry on your walk, a cheap neighborhood pizzeria on the corner of Nowolipki and Karmelicka or Baraboo.