Galeria Victoria
Award winning Galeria Victoria revitalises Walbrzych
Built on a former mining site of 9.5 hectares, the unique two storey shopping centre development located in the heart of Silesia has revitalised the industrial part of Walbrzych, Poland, creating a new public space and focal point for the community.
Galeria Victoria is the first modern retail complex in the region comprising of approximately 120 shops and supermarkets, 7 screen multiplex and a wide range of bars and restaurants. It will also soon be accompanied by a 8,000m2 retail park which will feature a 3* hotel, fitness centre and residential complex.
Our Warsaw office carried out multi-disciplinary design services in coordination with our transport and development teams in the UK. The site is located within an area of Walbrzych which has undergone extensive coal mining over a prolonged period of time. Three disused pit shafts, in addition to associated colliery buildings, were present in the eastern half of the site.
The risk of surface deformation as a result of collapse of either the shallow or deep mine workings was considered to be severe. We therefore conducted geo-technical studies with the help of the Polish mining institute to design suitable foundations.
Access to the site was another challenging aspect due to large level differences and restrictions from the river on the west side of the development. Consequently our design of the 1km road in overcoming these natural obstacles, for which planning permission has recently been obtained, will improve accessibility releasing traffic around the site.
The shopping centres ventilation system, incorporates a free cooling system and jet fans used for ventilation of the underground car park, was recommended by our building services engineers as an energy efficient process, that is well-practiced on developments in the UK.
The mall was developed by Keen Property Partners Retail and designed by award-winning architects Chapman Taylor. The value of the investment, together with the planned hotel and residential elements, will be approximately €95 million.
The entertainment shopping centre, which opened in October 2010, won a series of awards including ‘Best Shopping Centre Development’ in the 2010 CIJ awards Poland competition, Shopping Centre of the Year (Medium); CEE Retail Real Estate awards 2010 and Overall Project of the Year; CEE Retail Real Estate awards 2010.
