In 2007, the task of the competition was to design a public toilet located in a historic part of Kazimierz Dolny, a town in central Poland famed as a destination for tourists and artists.
The jury favoured their proposal in which the building was hidden behind a wall of wooden slats and rails resembling a plain, rustic fence. The jury appreciated its simplicity, which suited the character of the town perfectly.The jury announced:
The concept of the fence in the form characteristic of Kazimierz Dolny (wooden, rhythmic rails) is successfully applied to the fencing that structures the whole area as well as to the elevations and openwork screen roof made of the same wooden elements. The simplicity and elegance of the structure highlights the material and formal richness of the architecture and nature of Kazimierz Dolny. The toilet complex subtly and stylishly goes together with its surroundings.
In August 2012, the winning design by Musiałowicz and Przybyłowicz was built near the Vistula Boulevard in Kazimierz
Visualisation by 2PM studio, winner of the competition for the Polish pavilion at Expo 2015, photo: courtesy of the organisers
Another important success for the young architect was winning the competition to design a monument to Poles who rescued Jews during World War II. The monument is to be erected next to the Church of All Saints at Grzybowski Square in Warsaw.
Many of the submitted projects caused controversy, but the winning work of the March 2014 competition has been well received. The project is the result of collaboration between Piotr Musiałowski, Paulina Pankiewicz and Michał Adamczyk. The architects proposed a monument in the shape of a ribbon meandering in the air, on which are to be inscribed the names of people that helped Jews during the war.
The jury stated:
The project is a comprehensive and coherent response to the challenge posed by the theme and the location. The ribbon is a spatial gesture, with the scale of the square corresponding to the extent of the heroism of individuals who opposed violence and death. Intuitively, rather than literally, we perceive the symbol of a merger, a transfer between two worlds, as well as the tough optimism that was expressed in the attitude of Poles who rescued Jews during the German occupation. The ribbon will be a dominant feature in the context of the environment, whilst providing an optimal and interesting separation of the street and the courtyard of the Church of All Saints.
The monument designed for Plac Grzybowski is an artefact on the border of architecture and sculpture. Piotr Musiałowski has also designed everyday objects. Invited by designer Magda Jurek, creator of the brand Pani Jurek, the architect collaborated on the creation of two lamps that changed light intensity when touched. Musiałowski declares that he developed his sensitivity to the shape of objects while in charge of a studio producing scale models. For the architect, mock-ups remain a fundamental tool in the design process.
At the EXPO World Exhibition in Milan that opens on May 1st, 2015, Poland will be represented by Piotr Musiałowski’s studio 2PM. The pavilion has been designed by the members of the team: Piotr Musiałowski, Michał Adamczyk, Stanisław Ignaciuk, Michał Lenczewski, and Piotr Zubala.
Inspired by the form of an apple crate, the architects worked out an openwork elevation which resembles stacked wooden fruit containers. Inside will grow an orchard with lanes of budding apple trees. The orchard is to symbolize the quality of one of the main export products of Poland, but also it is intended to affect the senses of visitors while inviting them into the mysterious world of an endless garden. Piotr Musiałowski's previous designs show his ability to incorporate hidden symbolic content into architecture.
Author: Anna Cymer, czerwiec 2014, transl. GS, 16.06.2014