The Temple of Divine Providence in Wilanów
Conceptual and competition design: all-Polish SARP competition May 2000.
Authors: Ph.D Arch. Marek Kozień, Ph.D Arch. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak, M.Sc. Arch. Katarzyna Kozień-Kornecka.
Cooperation: Arch. Janusz Pancerz.
Plot area: 60 000 m ².
Development area: 15 000 m ².
Usable area: 28 935 m ².
Parking spaces: 722 altogether.
The main assumptions of this design are:
the atmosphere of internal concentration for prayer as contact with God
the ascetic simplicity of expression
the cultivation of the character of sacral architecture in the spirit of architecture strongly related to the achievements of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque
reaching the timelessness of the architecture of the Temple by the monumental simplicity of its urban and architectural layout
making light one of the crucial elements of the architectonic composition
clear separation of the Temple from the remaining constructional elements
The spatial layout of the Temple refers to the sacral layouts of Italian central churches with the Querini principle of internal composition. The central temple with two axes of symmetry was extended along the axis of the square with two main elements. The former is a roofed entrance portico making an element of the front elevation with a hung Cross formally moved away from the Temple plan. The Cross, dominating the square and "hovering" above the Temple, makes the most important height accent as well as a significant element of the composition of the background for ceremonies and liturgies at the field altar.
The latter element is St Mary's chapel with the sacristy rooms situated behind the presbytery wall.
The low ground floor of the Temple has a Sepultorium as well as archives and some accompanying rooms.
The interior of the Temple makes a direct reference to its constructional layout. The internal posts, arranged on an octagon, support a network of intercrossing arches resting on the wall pillars. They support the cover of the Temple with a drum. The layout of the cover ribs running through the construction of the drum forms an overexposed spatial network in its outline. The drum supports a glazed shell making a part of a spherical area in the patina copper steel and metal construction.
The presbytery is set axially, with a withdrawn background wall in order to form a multi-plane layout with a strong reflected light for the high altar and the altar of the Holy Sacrament.
The backup facilities for the field altar were introduced to the element of the advance entrance portico from the west. In the element of the portico from the east, there is a stairway to the square and to the sepultorium.
The parish and diocese building is situated by the southern border of the plot. The C-shaped ground floor includes pastoral rooms, such as the refectory with backup facilities, the meeting rooms and the parish registry. The residential part occupies the 1st and 2nd floor. Internal transport opens to a roofed and separated patio with a contemplative winter garden. 2nd building complex.
The John Paul II Institute is situated on the crosswise compositional axis of the entire layout and closes it from the square. On the entrance level, there are lecture rooms with a recreational hall, cloakrooms, snack bars with backup facilities as well as entrances to the conference and spectator hall (400 people) and the Institute library and administration.
An amphitheatre, which can hold almost 2,500 spectators, rests upon the external wall of the Institute from the west making the natural layout of the classic frons scaenae. The Retreat House is solved by a principle of spatial composition identical to the parish and diocese building.