Smyk's makeover

Commercial real estate developer Centrum Development & Investments (CDI) has announced plans to renovate and expand the former Centralny Dom Towarowy (CDT) building on Al. Jerozolimskie, which today houses toy and children's clothing retailer Smyk's flagship store. The cost of the project is expected to exceed EUR100 (zł.373) million, with completion scheduled for 2012.

Part of the project will see the construction of an additional retail building attached to the Smyk building. The structure, featuring a glass facade, will rise on a triangular plot between ul. Bracka and ul. Krucza, helping to revitalize the former street. An office annex that currently stands on the site will be demolished.

"Bracka is unique in Warsaw, one of two diagonal streets in the city. It is older than New York's Broadway," said architect Andrzej Chołdzyński of architectural firm AMC, which formed a consortium with RKW Rhode Kellermann Wawrowsky to design the project.

When built in 1950, CDT was a very "cosmopolitan-looking" structure, creating a contrast to social-realist style of architecture.

"With our project, we take it back to 1950, give the building its original facade and expand it with a modern retail and office structure that resembles a crystal. Its top floor will feature a restaurant, a cafe and a terrace," Chołdzyński said. He underscored the intention to preserve the original idea of CDT's architects, Zbigniew Ihnatowicz and Jerzy Romański, for the building to be a "night lantern" in the middle of the bustling city.

"We are in the process of agreeing the building conditions with city authorities," said Tomasz Chenczke, CEO and director of development at CDI.