Serving a million passengers annually, Zachodnia’s bus station was first unveiled in 1980 and built to a blueprint authored by Zygmunt Kłopocki. Responsible also for the station in Olsztyn as well as the modernization of Poznań Główny, Kłopocki’s original design would have made Zachodnia the biggest transport hub in Poland had his plans been fully implemented.

They were not – and even worse, this nationally recognized architect found his project ageing quickly. Despite being the first such public facility in Poland to be recognized as being fully-accessible to disabled users, with limited funds for upkeep and improvements the station found itself spinning into terminal decline.

Shabby, dark and stinky, these impressions of Zachodnia look set to be banished after plans were revealed in mid-July for a thorough transformation that will see the demolition of the current building, and the construction of a new 44-meter tower featuring office space and a hotel.

Touting also a two-level waiting room, ticket offices and food outlets, the project will also be surrounded by heavy sprinkles of urban greenery and street furniture. Designed by EMA Studio, it’s hoped that the investment will be unveiled in 2026.