Oxygenator
The local character of different parts of Warsaw, which, due to the larger renovations carried out in recent years, slowly began to disappear from the capital’s urban space, reappears along with artistic projects. This concerned all of the projects: Oxygenator, Common Task, A Trip to Asia and Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue. Each of these projects created or reinforced the local character. Oxygenator was seen as an oasis of peace in the bustling city centre, distinguishing itself aesthetically from the surroundings, objecting to the logic of change in the urban tissue and suggested a new kind of space. Respondents emphasized its importance in changing the way of thinking about Grzybowski Square. Thanks to Oxygenator, the Square was not only renovated, but it also integrated the local community. An inconspicuous “pond” meant that a neglected square was prioritized by the municipal authorities and renovated. However, after the renovation, Oxygenator was not recreated. Instead of a rural-style pond, the new element was a pool surrounded by a granite square which did not gain residents’ approval. Oxygenator (and not the new Grzybowski Square) still serves as a reference point for these residents when talking about good public space.
Oxygenator according to respondents:
Bath for the homeless: at some point, when the theatre left at six in the morning, well I have to say the entire Central Station came here to take a bath. This is really what happened. […] I myself saw a few people come here. Later on, ladies would come in the afternoons with these, I don’t know, easy chairs and would decide to sit in the city centre in their bras on. [actress, director, 61] Creates local identity: In it, I found something similar to what I found later, or around the same time, at the Tenth Anniversary Stadium. […] It was this kind of quiet place, as if from another world, operating to a slightly different rhythm, on different terms, interpersonal ones. [cultural animator, 36] Rural element in the city centre: That Oxygenator and these stones, those hills reminded me a little bit of a village. This charming rural nook. With some modern elements, since after all there were these stones in the form of plastic seats. [cloakroom attendant, 53] One of my colleagues once rightly said: “It’s great, but it’s just a pond and creating this huge ideology is pointless”. And I find it hard to not to agree with him. For me it was just a novelty which appeared on that square, which really did attract people, which became a meeting place, which was aesthetically pleasing, because I like those things. [cultural animator, 27]
space which creates bonds inconspicuous pond surprise slows down the pace of the city fairy-tale, unreal meeting place opens people up tourist attraction funny, coloured seats
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