ARCHITECTURE
Bielsko-Biala | Poland
Banialuka Puppet Theatre
An experience-led cultural competition proposal shaped by performance, narrative and the identity of Bielsko-Biała's puppet theatre.
Client | City of Bielsko-Biala
Budget | PLN 100m
Status | Public procurement - 4th place
RIBA Stages 0-2
Area | 12,000 sqm
Use | Education and culture
Team | Piotr Smiechowicz, Luke Murray and Blazej Wendrowski
Scope | Concept design
CONTEXT
The proposal responds to the identity of Banialuka, a puppet theatre with a distinctive cultural role in Bielsko-Biała. Rather than treating the building as a neutral container, the concept uses theatre, movement and storytelling as the basis for its public and architectural character.
ARCHITECTURAL RESPONSE
The design narrative draws on the relationship between performer, puppet and audience. Elements of the theatre are read through body-like and stage-like ideas - presence, wings, head, movement and shadow - to organise both form and experience. The façade concept uses depth and changing light to evoke shadow play. Environmental ideas in the proposal include natural-air movement and a wind-catcher principle. These are presented as competition-design intentions, not verified operational performance. The project demonstrates how a cultural brief can become a coherent visitor and spatial proposition, and how that proposition can be communicated through story, diagrams and architectural form.
