Faculty of Psychology of the University of Warsaw by Projekt Praga

Completed in 2025, the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Warsaw by Projekt Praga is a 26,600-square-metre academic building conceived as an open, social, and environmentally responsive learning landscape. Located on the Ochota campus in Warsaw, the project redefines the traditional university building by positioning architecture as a catalyst for interaction between students, staff, and the surrounding city.

Rather than functioning as a closed institutional object, the faculty operates as an urban platform: blurring boundaries between public space, academic life, and everyday social activity.

Reconnecting Campus and City

The project emerged from a 2017 architectural competition with a clear ambition: to reintegrate academic spaces into the urban fabric. In response, Projekt Praga designed a building that extends campus life outward and welcomes non-university users inside.

This ambition is most clearly expressed at ground level, where the building opens itself to pedestrians, cyclists, and local residents. Instead of a fenced perimeter or formal entrance plaza, the project offers a generous sheltered landscape that functions as a civic space.

The Concrete Canopy as Urban Threshold

A defining architectural gesture is the expansive concrete coffered canopy that spans the entire ground floor. Visible from both inside and outside, this structure creates a continuous sheltered zone that mediates between city and campus.

Under the canopy, a vibrant public plaza unfolds, incorporating:

• Seating and informal meeting areas
• Bicycle parking
• Landscaped planting zones
• Circulation routes

This protected environment enables year-round outdoor use, encouraging social interaction regardless of weather conditions. The canopy functions simultaneously as roof, public room, and symbolic gateway to the faculty.

Two Ground Floors: A Layered Public Interface

Inside, the building is organized around the innovative concept of “two ground floors,” which expands accessibility and activity across multiple levels.

Lower Ground Level

The lower ground floor is fully open to the public and remains active beyond academic hours. It contains:

• Café and canteen
• Glazed auditorium
• Large entrance halls
• Event and exhibition spaces

These functions ensure that the building operates as a cultural and social venue, not only as a teaching facility.

Upper Ground Level

Above, a second ground floor is arranged around a bright central atrium. This level acts as the heart of academic life and connects to:

• Classrooms and laboratories
• Faculty offices
• A two-story library
• Terrace access

By stacking public layers vertically, the building maximizes social permeability within a dense urban context.

Open Galleries Instead of Corridors

Rejecting conventional corridor-based layouts, Projekt Praga introduced open galleries that overlook the central atrium. These galleries connect teaching spaces while creating visual continuity and spatial openness.

Along these circulation routes, the architects integrated:

• Study niches
• Seating alcoves
• Informal meeting points
• Resting zones

This spatial strategy transforms circulation into a social experience, encouraging spontaneous encounters and collaborative learning.

The building thus supports both focused individual study and collective exchange.

Eco-Brutalism: Material and Atmosphere

The architectural character of the faculty can be described as eco-brutalist, a synthesis of raw material expression and environmental sensitivity.

Exposed concrete dominates the structure, providing:

• Structural clarity
• Thermal mass
• Visual unity
• Long-term durability

Rather than feeling cold or oppressive, the concrete is softened through:

• Abundant daylight
• Warm wood accents
• Extensive planting
• Carefully designed lighting

This balanced palette creates a calm, contemplative atmosphere suited to psychological research and education.

Landscape as Architectural Infrastructure

Greenery is deeply embedded into the building’s spatial system rather than treated as decoration. Landscape architecture by Zielone Studio plays a fundamental role in shaping experience and performance.

Key green elements include:

• Trees surrounding the building
• Indoor planting zones
• A flowering meadow atop the canopy
• Rooftop gardens with walking paths
• Outdoor classrooms

These landscapes regulate microclimate, filter air, reduce urban heat, and provide restorative environments for users.

Rainwater is retained and reused, while vegetation enhances biodiversity within the campus.

Sustainable Systems and Environmental Performance

The Faculty of Psychology integrates advanced sustainability strategies to minimize operational energy and environmental impact.

These include:

• Geothermal heat pumps
• Photovoltaic panels
• Rainwater harvesting and reuse
• External solar blinds
• Green roofs with insulation capacity

Together, these systems reduce energy consumption while improving indoor comfort.

The building’s thermal mass, natural shading, and passive cooling strategies complement active technologies, creating a resilient hybrid system.

Accessibility and Inclusive Design

Accessibility was a central design priority. The building is fully inclusive, ensuring equal participation for all users.

Features include:

• Step-free circulation throughout
• Induction loops for hearing support
• Clear wayfinding and signage
• Accessible sanitary facilities on each level
• Well-lit and intuitive routes

These measures support neurodiversity, physical accessibility, and cognitive comfort, particularly important in a psychology faculty.

A Building for Nearly 2,000 Users

With over 21,000 square metres of usable space serving nearly 2,000 students and staff, the building accommodates a wide range of academic functions:

• Teaching and seminar rooms
• Research laboratories
• Faculty offices
• Library and archives
• Event and conference spaces

Despite its scale, the project maintains human proportions through layered spaces, landscape integration, and varied spatial sequences.

An Academic Landscape for Contemporary Education

Rather than presenting itself as a monument to institutional authority, the Faculty of Psychology operates as a landscape of learning. It supports:

• Informal knowledge exchange
• Interdisciplinary encounters
• Community engagement
• Mental well-being
• Environmental awareness

By dissolving rigid boundaries between inside and outside, public and private, study and leisure, the building reflects contemporary educational values.

All the Photographs are works of Nate Cook Photography, ONI studio