FORT

Cracow Technical University (Politechnika Krakowska), Kraków

Project idea

FORT: Knowledge and Education Centre of the Armed Forces in Krakow

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have functioned as social beings, which led to the emergence of communities in which the need to choose representatives naturally arose. Contemporary institutional architecture therefore has a duty not only to represent the state by expressing its authority and prestige, but also to meet the highest standards of security and functionality. By using form, detail, and material as means of communicating social, cultural, and symbolic values, it continues the long tradition of thinking about public architecture. The façade, as the first point of contact between the institution and the citizen, shapes the perception of the building, building its reception through a sense of respect, distance, and awareness of engaging with a place of special significance.

The FORT concept was created as a response to current social sentiments arising from ongoing global conflicts. It proposes a multifunctional public building dedicated to the promotion and civic education in the field of military affairs. Thanks to its location, the project enhances the attractiveness of the area currently developed by the Polish Aviation Museum in Kraków, near the historic runway of the former Rakowice–Czyżyny military airfield, becoming another distinctive landmark in the urban landscape.

Through its form and aesthetics, FORT expresses concepts that connect military themes with architecture — such as security, sovereignty, stability, and order. A defining design strategy in shaping the architectural form was the adoption of the idea of a so-called “second skin” of the building. This layer serves both a functional role — protecting the actual, sensitive core of the structure — and a metaphorical one, expressed through the façade as a composition of prefabricated pillars. Their strength, monumentality, rhythm, and hierarchy lend the building the character of a contemporary fortification. The pillars, evoking the image of sails, combined with the choice of concrete as a solid and timeless material, emphasize a sense of security and integrity while simultaneously conveying monumentality and institutional prestige.

Project description

FORT is a hybrid public building that integrates several functions with different spatial forms, levels of accessibility, and modes of use. The starting point for the building’s spatial organization was a kind of “play of volumes,” based on simple geometric forms that are easily recognizable and clearly define the boundaries of functional zones. In this way, four main zones were established: three enclosed within the outlines of a rectangle, a circle, and a triangle, with the fourth consisting of the space between them. This interstitial space functions as both a connector and a circulation route between the volumes, while its generous scale also offers potential for flexible spatial arrangements. At the same time, each zone maintains functional continuity across all floors. Thanks to openings in the floor slabs, the open zone remains vertically connected as well, further reinforcing its role. This space can accommodate exhibition functions, as well as library, educational, or general meeting activities.

FORT is characterized by a clear zoning strategy for its functional spaces. The first zone — the gastronomic zone — is located on the ground floor and first floor, accommodating a bar-café area and a lounge zone. The second zone, the administrative zone, which includes offices and the military commission, extends partially onto the second floor, providing users with access to the recreational area on the building’s roof. The third zone — the conference zone — spans four above-ground floors. On the ground floor, it includes a foyer with a cloakroom, while the top level features a café offering views over the grounds of the Polish Aviation Museum.

The roof is designed as a usable space and remains publicly accessible, subject to access control and security regulations. A dedicated portion of the roof has been prepared for soldiers as an open area for gymnastics and team sports.

The concept of security is strengthened through the introduction of access control and activity monitoring systems, as well as by dedicating part of the underground level to a shelter — a response to evolving approaches in public building design.



As part of the site development, an open representative area is planned, featuring a so-called parade ground on which an amphitheater has been located to enable the organization of various types of outdoor events. The surface of the square employs a checkerboard motif strongly associated with military thinking. It derives from chaturanga — a game representing the battlefield — and from the very beginning constituted an abstract model of armed conflict. Its structure reflects the principles of strategy, tactics, and logistics.

Furthermore, the space has been enriched with water basins, intended to have a calming effect on users while also reflecting the original building façade. Complementing the representative section is the park space located on the southern side of the complex, designed for recreation amid greenery and diversified by terrain variations that reference trenches or fortification embankments. These features continue into the enclosure surrounding the building mass, where a secluded training ground has been created for outdoor exercises, inaccessible to the public.

As a result, the design concept combines spaces dedicated to the planned function with areas open to all residents, continuing the idea of the Polish Airmen Park.

Technical information

The building is based on the use of concrete in various forms – both as a structural element and as a finishing material.

The applied technology allows the natural texture of the concrete to be revealed — its roughness, irregularities, and imperfections resulting from the construction process — which are not perceived as flaws, but rather as an expression of the material’s authenticity. At the same time, through its mass, durability, and resistance, concrete manifests qualities such as strength, stability, and reliability — fundamental values embedded in the character of the designed building.

To protect the environment, a range of eco-friendly and energy-efficient solutions have been implemented to minimize the building’s negative impact on the natural surroundings. Green roofs have been applied, utilizing the large roof area to increase the biologically active surface. Additional measures include a rooftop apiary, a mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning system with heat recovery, photovoltaic panels, a greywater recycling system, a ground-source heat pump with a ground heat exchanger, the use of prefabricated elements to reduce construction waste, and permeable pavements serving as circulation paths within the site development.

Furthermore, concrete with recycled aggregate has been used to support the circular economy and reduce the consumption of natural resources. Recycled construction materials will also be utilized as a base layer for external paving. Moreover, during the production of precast reinforced concrete elements, eco-friendly cement will be employed to reduce excessive CO₂ emissions generated in the cement manufacturing process.

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