EGG in the Main Building of the University of Wroclaw

Wroclaw, Poland
2019

Glass EGG, located in the hall built in 1737 between the University of Wroclaw and the University’s Church, is a unique solution to a difficult design problem – the necessity of introducing a new function – concierge desk in the baroque interior of the Main Building of the University of Wroclaw. In Portuguese barroco means “pearl of irregular shape”, in Italian – strangeness, atypicality. The EGG, fitting this character and carrying a rich positive symbolism, constitutes a modern and visually contrasting architectural component, a work of art that combines individual and unique artistic features.

The EGG’s concept was designed in 2014 by arch. Tomasz Urbanowicz as a response to a request from arch. Andrzej Kamiński to propose an external shape of the concierge desk. The designed idea has been approved by the Municipal Conservator of Wroclaw, arch. Katarzyna Hawrylak-Brzezowska, Rector’s Counselor for Monument’s Conservation and the Chancellor. Rector of the Univeristy of Wroclaw, prof. Marek Bojarski, approved the implementation of the EGG’s concept. The 5,5 metres high composition consists of almost 50 pieces, casted in 850°C of artistic glass in author’s atelier – ARCHIGLASS.

In 2019 the artwork together with the whole investment has been awarded the „Construction of the Year 2019” Award by the jury of the Polish Association of Construction Engineers and Technicians in the 30th jubilee edition of the competition. The project has been shortlisted in CODAawards 2020 as 1 of 100 best works of art in architecture.

EGG’s Concept: arch. Tomasz Urbanowicz;

EGG’s Project: arch. Tomasz Urbanowicz, arch. Konrad Urbanowicz;

Project of the reorganization of the entrance to the Main Building of the University of Wroclaw and the concierge desk inside the EGG: PKZ A-R-S sp. z o.o. arch. Andrzej Kamiński, arch. Tomasz Biegun;

General execution: Consortium – ARCHIGLASS, BGS System, ELEKTROWOLF;

EGG’s glass art design and execution: ARCHIGLASS, arch. Tomasz Urbanowicz, arch. Konrad Urbanowicz;

EGG’s structure project: arch. Konrad Urbanowicz, substantive consultation: mgr inż. Zbigniew Donocik; door’s concept: prof. Krzysztof Wołowski, ASP Wrocław

EGG’s structure execution: HOSTAL K. Hostyński i S-ka;

EGG’s lighting project: arch. Ewa Reszka FAGERHULT Sp. z o.o.;

Photographs: Maciej Lulko.