Kraków, Poland
The Małopolska Science Center Cogiteon is an institution with an educational and exhibition function that promotes science and education through play and new, experimental, and original forms of exposition.
The Małopolska Science Center Cogiteon won an 2025 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
Its unique, expressive form is a symbol and an element of the institution’s identity. Within a short time of its opening, the Cogiteon building became one of the most important points on the architectural map of Krakow..
The assumptions for shaping the form of the building and its functional utility layout refer to an extremely expressive element of the surrounding space – the existing runway of the former airport.
The dominant park character of the area became an impulse to design the Center as an element strongly integrated into the landscape, blurring the boundary between the building and the surroundings of the museum grounds and the cultural park. The triangular-plan building grows out of the runway space. It is characterized by variations in levels, highs, and the size of the individual spaces. The roof is a viewing terrace and grandstand that can be used by Cogiteon users and Krakow residents to observe air shows or other events that will take place in the park and in the Center. The elements correspond to the zoning of function, taking internal connections and the organization of the center, while integrating the building’s interior with its exterior.
Taking advantage of the natural terrain, the designed building has been sunken, which is also an important aspect of the energy concept.
The structure of the interior and the landscaping of the adjacent area are conducive to organizing communal spaces for work, study, as well as areas for users’ creativity. The parts of the building are enclosed in a uniform façade in the form of a transparent ‘screen’, which gives the project an innovative and technological expression. Seen against the concrete walls, the expanded metal elements shimmering in the sunlight create very interesting drawings of light and shadow, depending on the time of day and weather conditions. The metal screen gives a three-dimensional effect and lightness. The façade is used as a space for presenting current events and illuminating the building.
The architectural form is based on the outline of a triangle with a division into the main functional spaces, creating four independent blocks of varying heights, accommodating the entrance area, the conference area, the administration area, the exhibition area, together with the laboratory and workshop area and the technical and storage.
The building has a transitional character. The passageways separating the individual functional units allow free movement in all directions.
The shape of the building is an important element of the energy concept – the triangular outline eliminated the north façade , and the sloping, sloping green roof replaced the south façade. The temperature-stable east and west facades, apart from the entrance zone, are bounded by solid partitions. The double reinforced concrete space housing the multi-level staircases provides a buffer between the interior and exterior of the building. The temperature in the reinforced concrete void space is intermediate. The massive concrete walls provide an accumulative thermal mass. The intensive green roof is an important element of the building’s energy concept, eliminating the heat island effect.
Architects: heinlewischer Partnerschaft freier Architekten mbB
Lead Architect: Anna Stryszewska-Słońska
Design Team: Edzard Schultz, Małgorzata Biernacka, Małgorzata Oleśkowska, Wojciech Chołuj, Łukasz Orłowski, Tomasz Padło, Joanna Pittner, and Barbara Trojanowska
Landscape Architects: Rehwaldt Landschaftarchitekten
General Contractor: Hochtief Polska S.A.
Client: Małopolskie Centrum Nauki Cogiteon
Photographers: Piotr Krajewski
