Architect Robert Skitek of RS+ has designed a series of public seating shelters that line a walkway along a river in Cieszyn, Poland, that’s also the border with the Czech Republic.
Provided with a very narrow and abandoned strip of land on the steep bank of the Olza River, the architect aimed to create an attractive public space and to design carriers for an exhibition about the history of a divided area.
Designed to be an ‘Outdoor Museum’, the circular seating platforms named ‘The Times Circles’, encourage people to relax and enjoy the view, but at the same time, they also provide a moment to learn about the history of the area.
The architects mention, “the most important challenge was to create a characteristic element – a symbol of the Museum, which would link areas belonging to two different countries. We decided to create a kind of appeal for those walking on the other side of the border river: “hey, here we are, it’s worth coming here, we invite you warmly”.
At night ‘The Times Circles’ are illuminated to attract the attention of pedestrians and provide information about important events in the history of the city. This information can be seen on the plaques that are attached to the exterior of the circles.
