Opera for the east

The Podlaskie voivodship Marshal's Office has called for tenders to build the Podlaska Opera in Białystok, the first one east of the Vistula River. The investor plans to launch the construction works in July this year and complete the first stage of the development within 16 months. The value of the investment, excluding the multi-screen cinema, which is a private project, is not yet set but has been estimated at some zł.70-100 million.

The jury established by the authorities of Podlaskie voivodship has chosen a design by Marek Budzyński, who is a member of the National Council of Architects. Most of the jurors emphasized that the design corresponds well with nature and is functional. At the front there will be a Greek colonnade and at the top, a monument of Czesław Niemen, a well-known Polish singer. When designing the facility, Budzyński wanted to link the surrounding nature with culture, and thus the new building will have a green facade and a garden on the roof.  "This solution will be interesting because the plants will change along with the seasons," says Budzyński.

According to the Marshal's Office, the regional authorities including the city hall and the state budget have contributed to paying the costs of the project and have already gathered the finances to erect the building.