New European Bauhaus Prizes 2023

Project category

Identify the award category for which this project is being submitted
Prioritising the places and people that need it the most

Email user
kasiapelka@wzorro.com

Basic information
Project title
The "New Crown Treasury''

Full Project Title
The "New Crown Treasury''

Please provide a short, catchy description of your project to be used in communication towards the public.
The "New Crown Treasury'' consists of 12 rooms filled with the most important and valuable items in the Royal Wawel Castle's collection. The arrangement of the exhibition is minimalistic and mysterious – it emphasizes the rank and uniqueness of the presented exhibits. The play of light and shadows is not only the crucial visual element of the project, but it is also its main design idea. The arrangement discreetly emphasizes the historic interiors and draws attention.

What was the geographical scope of your project?
National

Where was your project implemented?
Member State(s) and Western Balkans
Poland

If relevant, insert names of region(s)/municipality(ies) involved
Lesser Poland, Upper Silesia

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?
Mainly urban

Does your project refer to a physical transformation of the built environment or other types of transformations (hard or soft investments)?
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?
Yes

Which fund(s)?
ERDF : European Regional Development Fund

Here you can provide more details about the name of the specific programme, strand/action line as relevant, and the year
As a designer I don't have full knowledge of financing.

Has your project won an EU prize with a monetary value awarded?
No

Is your project fully completed
Yes

Please indicate a date (mm/yy)
2022-06-30

On whose behalf are you submitting the application?
As a representative of an organisation
Please provide the contact details for the project promoter (the individual or representative of the organisation authorised to represent the project)
- Name of the organisation(s): Wzorro Design S.C.
  Type of organisation: For-profit company
  First name of representative: Katarzyna
  Last name of representative: Pelka-Bura
  Gender: Female
  Nationality: Poland
  Function: co-owner
  Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Kościuszki, 55/7
  Town: Katowice
  Postal code: 40-068
  Country: Poland
  Direct Tel: +48 501 185 015
  E-mail: kasiapelka@wzorro.com
  Website: http://wzorro.com
Social Media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
- URL: https://www.instagram.com/wzorrodesign/
  Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #design #wzorro
- URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wzorro-design/
- URL: https://www.facebook.com/wzorrodesign
In case my project is selected as a finalist of the NEB Prizes 2023, I agree to share the name (individual and/or organisation’s), email address, website and social media accounts indicated above with other NEB Prizes finalists. I also agree to publish the name (individual and/or organisation’s), website and social media accounts indicated above next to the public description of my project in the channels of the European Commission.
Yes

How did you hear about the New European Bauhaus Prizes?
Social Media

Description of the project
Please provide a summary of your project.
The "New Crown Treasury'' consists of 12 rooms filled with the most important and valuable items in the Royal Wawel Castle's collection. The arrangement of the exhibition is minimalistic and mysterious – it emphasizes the rank and uniqueness of the presented exhibits.
The play of light and shadows is not only the crucial visual element of the project, but it is also its main design idea. Objects emerge from the dark. The arrangement discreetly emphasizes the historic interiors and draws attention to the most important objects. Simple, minimalistic forms of display elements are made of precious materials and constitute a background for the most important "heroes" of the exhibition. All in an elegant way that harmonizes with historic interiors. Gold shimmers and appears in the details of the arrangement – in the carriers of visual information and typography or details of the showcases.
The permanent exhibition is timeless, but diverse enough to be interesting each time and inspire viewers to rediscover it. The visitor explores objects and curiosities like an adventure seeker or archaeologist. The arrangement encourages independent discovery of the treasures.

All photo credits Radoslaw Kazmierczak

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.
design

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
accessibility

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
rearrangement

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
high quality

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words
durability

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of sustainability and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The key objectives are:
inclusive design;
comprehensive design for the whole range of users: both visitors and staff;
display & lighting design;
complementary visual identity: logo, posters, outdoor and internet graphics;
elements of communication design: maps and pylons – users can easily find themselves in the space;
personalized educational items – dedicated to young and mature users;
personalized pieces of furniture – dedicated to the staff;
durability – the exhibition is designed with highest quality materials

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience for people (through design, positive emotions and cultural benefits) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
In every room there is one most important exhibit, chosen as a visual highlight. For example in the second room where the bridles are the most important exhibit, replicas of horses are the most visible element, additionally surrounded with mirrors to emphasize the impression. The whole arrangement of the last room is arranged like a chessboard - every object is in a niche and together they compile a chessboard pattern. The visitor has the impression of being inside the game.
Educational elements also appear in the exhibition space e.g. replicas of objects or sound elements. Solutions are convenient for all users. A path with hidden coins was created for the youngest visitors. Children have to find them along the sightseeing route. Replicas of some objects were created for the blind and visually impaired. They are also an educational element used by the staff during museum lessons. Besides that, there are some tactile graphics along the route. Typography is presented in high contrast to be legible. Moreover, the size of fonts was adapted to the dark environment. Ergonomic, comfortable seats have been designed specifically for museum employees, who can use them during work. The staff can hide personal belongings or a bottle of water in the back pockets of the armchairs. On the exhibition route there are also some discreet seats for the visitors. Visual identification of the exhibition was an important part of the project and included the logo of the exhibition and the promotional campaign. Logo design was inspired by the embroidery on the most important object of the whole exhibition – the Mantle of a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit, which was a gift from the French king Louis XIV to the Polish king John III Sobieski. Promotional campaign which included posters, citylights, banners, advertisement poles, billboards, internet materials and invitations, showed particular objects from the Treasury.

Please give information about the key objectives of your project in terms of inclusion (ranging from accessibility and affordability for all to inclusive governing systems, design for all principles or new societal models) and how these have been met. Please highlight how the project can be exemplary in this context.
The key objectives of the project in terms of inclusion:
1. The exhibition is for everybody;
2. The staff is as important as visitors. They finally have an ergonomic place of work (specially designed pieces of furniture).
3. There are different paths to visiting the exhibition. Content is interesting for the youngsters, professionals and common visitors.
4. Educational elements also appear in the exhibition space e.g. replicas of objects or sound elements. Solutions are convenient for all users.
5. Typeface Nocturne was chosen due to its elegance and correspondence with the feeling of the exhibition. The typeface is legible and accessible to all users.

Please explain the way citizens benefiting from or affected by the project and civil society have been involved in the project and what has been the impact of this involvement on the project
The "New Crown Treasury'' shows the most important exhibits in the Wawel Royal Castle and in Poland itself. The heritage has to be shown in the best accessible way to all citizens.

Please explain how different stakeholders at various levels (local, regional, national, European) were engaged in the design and implementation of the project. Please highlight what the added value of their engagement was.
The restoration of "New Crown Treasury'' was financed by the Polish Government and European Union. In the process were involved many specialists, such as curators, exhibition designers, light designers, architects, monument restorers, constructors, project managers, directors of the Wawel Royal Castle, local authorities.

Please explain which disciplines and/ or knowledge fields were reflected in the design and implementation of your project. Please explain how representatives of these different fields interacted with each other, and what the added value of this process was.
Disciplines and/ or knowledge fields:
product design;
exhibition design;
history;
conservation of monuments;
text redation;
photography;
graphic design;
wayfinding;
prevention of monuments;
management;
architecture;
craft;
multimedia.

Please give information on the results, outcomes and impacts achieved by your project in relation to the category you apply for. This includes also benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries
The exhibits are better presented and more accessible for all visitors. The collection is presented in consistent character. The permanent exhibition is timeless, but diverse enough to be interesting each time and inspire viewers to rediscover it. The visitor explores objects and curiosities like an adventure seeker or archaeologist. The arrangement encourages independent discovery of the treasures.

Please provide documents showing the results, outcomes and impacts of your project
Web link
Web link
- https://wzorro.com/project/new-crown-treasury
Please highlight the innovative character of the project, when compared to mainstream actions in the field of the project
Some educational stations have sound recordings. Films and multimedia animations complement the presentation of objects. We use the technology to underline the beauty of the collection. In the "Kunstkamera" room the objects show up and hide because of implementing the interactive glass solution. The chessboard gifted to the king plays a prominent role here, while other exceptional objects were arranged in a chessboard pattern. Visitors can see all the items at the same time in a sequence or a selected section of the collection (e.g. only jewelry).

Please describe the methodology or approach used in your project.
How do we work?
Our work is an inclusive process with clients. Usually it contains a workshop with a client and an in-depth analysis of the space as well as objects' history. We work in interdisciplinary teams to make the design complete and accessible. That is why we work on both displays and graphic design. Functional solutions for all groups of users are paramount to us.

Please describe which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries and context. This may involve for example aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, learnings etc.
The design is unique for the Royal Castle but the methodology of our work is always the same. We believe that accessible design is good design. In designing, we focus on creative and functional solutions. We want visitors to feel good in the spaces we design and that the space is accessible to various recipients. It is important for us to choose visual means appropriately to the subject.

Please explain what kind of global challenges the project addresses by providing local solutions
The prevention of national heritage is one of the most important parts of culture. That is why it requires an appropriate setting. We did our best to present the objects in the best way. Objects emerge from the dark. The arrangement discreetly emphasizes the historic interiors and draws attention to the most important objects. Simple, minimalistic forms of display elements are made of precious materials and constitute a background for the most important "heroes" of the exhibition. All in an elegant way that harmonizes with historic interiors. Gold shimmers and appears in the details of the arrangement – in the carriers of visual information and typography or details of the showcases.
Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.
If you would like to upload additional documentation, please upload or write below
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By submitting your application you confirm that you are the copyright owner of the images provided and that they can be used by the European Commission for the purposes of promoting the New European Bauhaus on all platforms (websites, print, social media and other).
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that you are not in in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation.
Yes

By submitting this application, I declare that I am not related to the entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and subject to Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU)1, and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05), which are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
Yes

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that you assume sole liability in the event of a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest, that the proposed project has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Prizes in any other category or strand and that it has not been subject to any type of investigation, which could lead to a financial correction because of irregularities or fraud.
Yes

By submitting your application, you guarantee that you are the author or have the rights to proceed with the application and to authorise the use of the project and that you have obtained any necessary consents, licenses or assignments from third parties and included copyright notices when necessary.
Yes

By submitting your application, you understand that all the applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be shared for the purposes of the selection processes, and notably published on the secured platform prizes.new-european-bauhaus.eu and for the purposes of the promotion of these on the New European Bauhaus website and/or other European Commission communication channels. In this sense, the applications would be widely available. Applicants should ensure that they present their projects, in such a way that they could be shared without giving rise to intellectual property related concerns. If your submission is selected as one of the finalists, it will additionally be shared for the purpose of the public vote that will take place. The European Union is granted a licence to use and share your application with the general public and the official external experts for the purposes of the selection process, including the voting. The European Union has the right to use the images and visual materials and the description provided in the application for communication purposes related to the contest and beyond. Rights granted comprise the right to store, reproduce, display, publish and communicate or distribute copies in electronic or digital format, including, but not only, through the internet. Unless you have disclosed your name, the European Commission has no obligation to share your name when using or disseminating your contribution to the public. The European Union cannot be held responsible in case any submitted project, is found to infringe third party’s rights. The European Union shall be neither responsible for the use that third parties may do of the applications or related content.
Yes

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you read and understand that the ‘Guide to Applicants’ of the NEB Prizes 2023, available online in the website of the NEB Prizes 2023, is an integral part of this application form and that it must therefore be observed when completing and submitting your application.
Yes