New Faculty of Psychology
The new home of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Warsaw redefines the concept of academic space. It is a building that not only serves education but also supports relationships among its users and fosters a dialogue between the university and the city. It combines teaching functions with an ethos of openness and sustainable design.
After more than half a century in its former building on Stawki Street, the Faculty has moved to a new location on the Ochota campus. The project, designed by the architecture studio Projekt Praga and selected in a 2017 architectural competition, was conceived from the outset as a place open to both the campus and the district. Projekt Praga was comprehensively responsible for the concept, detailed design, and authors’ supervision of the construction — from urban planning and greenery to custom furniture and visual identity.
Architecture of Openness
“A university is not just a place for learning — it is also part of the campus and the neighborhood, where everyday life unfolds. When designing the building for the Faculty of Psychology, we wanted it to actively participate in this life. That’s why we devoted so much attention to public spaces both around and inside the building,” explain Karolina Tunajek and Marcin Garbacki from Projekt Praga.
One of the most distinctive features of the new building is the concrete coffered canopy extending over the entire ground floor. Visible both inside and outside, it creates a unifying architectural motif that anchors the building within its context. Beneath it lies a public space filled with greenery, seating, meeting areas, and bike racks — a friendly, sheltered environment usable at any time of day, protected from sun and rain. This open zone is available not only to students and staff but also to Ochota residents and campus users, naturally inviting everyday interaction with the faculty’s surroundings.
Inside, the key spatial innovation is the creation of “two ground floors.”
The first forms a public zone with spacious halls, a canteen, a café, and a glazed auditorium — the faculty’s “open living room.” These spaces can function independently of the faculty’s operations, ensuring that the building remains active long after classes end.
One level above, a second ground floor opens into a large atrium designed for the faculty community. A glazed roof fills the interior with natural light. Traditional corridors were replaced by open galleries leading to classrooms, laboratories, work and study spaces, and a two-level library with access to a terrace. Between them, numerous alcoves for individual work and rest encourage spontaneous encounters.
“We wanted this building to be more than a place for classes — a space people want to return to,” say the architects. “Our aim was to create a place that attracts people: students, staff, and neighbors. Architecture here is meant to connect, not divide or create hierarchies.”
The two main zones — public and faculty-specific — are linked by sculptural spiral staircases, forming a spatial counterpoint. One opens to the city; the other turns inward, fostering focus and collaboration.
The idea of the project is openness — both literal and symbolic. The architecture invites light and people inside through extensive glazing, framed views, galleries instead of corridors, rooftop gardens, and numerous shared spaces.
The architects describe the building as eco-brutalist — a combination of raw concrete honesty with pro-environmental solutions and abundant greenery integrated into the architecture.
Concrete, chosen for its capacity to shape large-scale spaces and its long-term durability, was used in structural elements, façades, and interiors. It appears in its raw, expressive form — without unnecessary finishing layers. This material consistency allowed the creation of a calm and cohesive composition, in which the roughness of concrete is complemented by the warmth of wood, natural light, greenery, and subtle color accents.
Although the exterior is simple and restrained, the interior reveals surprising spatial richness. Behind the rhythmic, disciplined façade lies a diverse program of rooms and a series of shared spaces offering varied scales and atmospheres: from the open atrium to lecture halls of different sizes and intimate niches for work and rest. The aim was to create a friendly and diverse environment that meets the needs of contemporary education — supporting both individual comfort and collaboration, and fostering a sense of community.
Greenery is an integral part of the building — permeating its structure and surroundings to form a unified whole. From the trees around the building to indoor plants and the rooftop garden, nature is omnipresent, giving the space a gentle, natural character.
A wildflower meadow on the ground-floor canopy retains rainwater and creates a microclimate along the façades, while the rooftop garden features a walking path, sunlit seating areas, and a covered outdoor room. Plants also appear on the library terrace and in a dedicated micro-cultivation zone. This is not decoration but a full-fledged component of the architecture that shapes the atmosphere and identity of the new Faculty of Psychology.
Sustainable and Accessible
Behind the building’s raw architectural expression lies an advanced system of sustainable solutions. Heating and cooling are provided by heat pumps with geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels cover the roof, and rainwater is collected and reused. External blinds protect against overheating, while green roofs enhance natural insulation.
The interiors were designed with acoustic and lighting comfort in mind, and the building is fully accessible for people with disabilities. Step-free entrances, elevators, induction loops in the auditorium, appropriately designed restrooms on each floor, a clear circulation layout, and intuitive graphic signage ensure accessibility in the most literal sense of the word.
The new Faculty of Psychology is more than an educational building — it is a space that actively supports the development of science, collaboration, and everyday academic life.
Across more than 21,000 m², it provides an environment for work and research for nearly 2,000 users, designed with functionality, comfort, and openness in mind. It demonstrates that academic public buildings can be practical, durable, and welcoming — supporting relationships, exchange of ideas, and connection with the city.
