The Silesian Museum competition has been adjudicated

Their project was unanimously selected from among 18 works which were received in connection with the competition announced by the authorities of the Silesian Province. The international jury chaired by Bohdan Paczowski decided that this project excellently matches the surroundings – it does not obscure the preserved post-mining buildings, but emphasises their beauty. The museum rooms are located underground and they will be accessed like coal mines. They will be lit by means of glass towers.

Other competition projects were also interesting. Odile Decq from France was awarded a distinction for a gigantic building which breaks through the ground like coal deposits. The architect Dick van Gameren from Holland, together with Bartłomiej Nawrocki and Marcin Jojko suggested placing the Museum in a building consisting of three blocks based on a common platform. The jury awarded them third place.

The Museum employees were glad with the yesterday’s competition adjudication. The Museum, re-established in the 80s, is currently situated in a former hotel building at Korfantego Avenue and it lacks exhibition space for its collections. This is why the provincial authorities mention the construction of the new seat as one of the most important tasks. The construction works will start in 2009 and finish two years later.

In the meantime, it will be possible to visit the old properties, adapted for exhibition purposes, including the engine room of the “Bartosz” mineshaft. The new Museum will cost over 200 million zloty. The Province wants to obtain the money from the European Union funds.