The project designed by two architecture practices – BAAS architects from Barcelona and Grupa 5 Architekci, won the first award in the competition for the Radio and Television Faculty of Silesia University in Katowice. The building permit project and construction project was done by: BAAS architects, Grupa 5 Architekci and Małeccy Biuro Projektowe from Katowice.

The biggest part of the usable area is located in the volume from Pawła street, which gave the possibility of making inner part of the building much lower and better fitted in the scale of existing buildings.The contemporary sensitivity obliged us to retain the existing building and accommodate it into the design. This gives the continuity of the city urban fabric.

The new facade is made from the same brickwork as the existing. This gives the visual connection with the existing building. The openwork brickwork gives an abstract and unique character to the space. On the upper storeys wall filtrates the light which enters the building and creates an atmosphere of silence and concentration in the visually isolated inner space. The main entrance to the building visible in this space seems chiselled out from the main volume. The glazed entrance lobby connects the street with the existing building converted into the library and with the inner part of the new structure. The main entrance gives possibility of circulation around the atrium and connection between the floors.

Clear connection between the building’s main entrance and the inner patio helps to bring the external street space into the building and the university to the outside.