The construction of the fourth circle of the Nova Opera is scheduled to begin in March 2022. Perhaps it is time to resume the discussion on the development of the area between the Opera and Theater Square.
The fourth circle of the Nova Opera will have four levels connected to the main building on several levels. The facades of the building will be covered with glass panels. It will include a chamber hall with nearly 500 seats, a cinema hall capable of accommodating just over 200 people, a hall and cloakrooms, as well as exhibition space. Importantly, a two-level underground car park will also be built, with a capacity of 226 parking spaces.
The construction has been postponed several times, but there is hope that it will start in March 2022, at least according to the Marshal’s Office, which is responsible for the opera. The construction costs, approximately 114 million Polish złoty, will be shared by the Marshal’s Office and the city council of Bydgoszcz.
Due to the planned investment and its significance for the city and the region, it is worth resuming the discussion on the possible development of the area between the Opera and Theater Square. We have asked Anna Rembowicz-Dziekciowska, the head of the Municipal Urban Planning Studio, Piotr Cyprys, the president of the Metropolitan Association of Bydgoszcz, and Maciej Bakalarczyk, the manager of the Old Town and City Center, for their comments on this matter.
Preserve such places from development
According to Anna Rembowicz-Dziekciowska, Theater Square is a place that, in her opinion as the head of the Urban Planning Studio, should remain undeveloped and filled with attractive greenery and specially designed small architecture.
“The small architecture should reflect the history of this place, for example, the former Carmelite monastery or the Municipal Theater,” explains Anna Rembowicz-Dziekciowska. “It is the heart of the city, a scenic foreground for both the Old Town, coming from Gdańska Street, and the expanding Nova Opera. I strongly support the expansion of the Opera and believe that no other construction, apart from the expansion of the Opera, should be carried out on Theater Square.”
The director of the Urban Planning Studio adds that the area between the Opera and Theater Square is also a place where the city center connects with the river: “Therefore, providing a view of the Brda River is especially important, both in terms of urban planning and climate. We should protect such places from development and create new, more attractive and public green spaces. This is particularly important in the times of climate change.”
We have documentation of the theater
Piotr Cyprys, the president of the Metropolitan Association of Bydgoszcz, emphasizes that the association has never addressed this issue. “Therefore, this is my personal comment. A building that naturally fits the atmosphere of the city center, with its extensively restored tenement houses, is the structure of the demolished theater. With the idea of expanding the Opera with a fourth circle, the construction of another facility with congress functions would miss the point. Bydgoszcz deserves to have the former look of this representative part of the city restored. Of course, the decorative interiors of the theater should also be restored and its functionality expanded. Furthermore, the difference in height between the old and new bridge crossings and streets could potentially allow for an additional underground level. If the reconstruction of the Old Market’s facades has caused negative emotions for some, it should not be the case in this situation. The architecture was of the highest quality, straight from Berlin, with documentation and preserved interior photos. A bold decision is needed to prepare an investment that would enrich and
