Warsaw's Museum of Modern Art opening week draws huge crowds

On Friday evening, the new headquarters of the Museum of Modern Art on Marszałkowska Street in Warsaw was officially opened, drawing crowds of residents and tourists. Eager visitors lined up to tour the building on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Monday, museum summarized the data from the first three days.

"Attendance from Friday to Sunday was around 50,000 visitors. On Friday, there were 10,000, and on the following two days, 20,000 each," Przemek Rydzewski from the museum's press office told tvnwarszawa.pl. "People have been coming in steadily since Monday morning, and the interest is very high," he added.

Events related to the opening of the new museum headquarters will continue until November 10. As Rydzewski notes, the facility will be open daily during this period, except for Monday, November 4.

The opening program is designed to encourage visitors to "experience" the new building and become acquainted with its features and architectural solutions. Over 100 different events have been planned to achieve this goal.

Construction of the new Museum of Modern Art (MSN) headquarters began in 2019 and was completed in September 2024. The building was designed by the New York-based firm Thomas Phifer and Partners, in collaboration with APA Wojciechowski studio, with BuroHappold Engineering responsible for the structural and installation designs.

The museum building has a simple form based on two rectangular plans. It consists of six levels - four above ground and two below - spanning a total of nearly 20,000 square meters, with 4,500 square meters dedicated to exhibition spaces. A distinctive feature of the building is its spacious staircase, which has already become iconic among Warsaw residents thanks to photos taken during construction. The double-flight stairs allow easy access to the exhibition spaces located on the upper floors.

According to city hall, exhibits will be displayed in four galleries located on the first and second floor. Two of the top-floor galleries are illuminated by natural light diffused through skylights in the roof, while the lower galleries ensure safe lighting conditions for pieces requiring stricter environmental control. The upper floors also house rooms for relaxation, casual conversation, or educational activities.

The ground floor features a fully glass-enclosed foyer, auditorium, educational and lecture spaces, a temporary exhibition gallery, a shop, and a café - all of which are public spaces visible from the outside.

On the first basement level, there is a 150-seat cinema, an educational space, conservation studios, storage rooms, and technical facilities. The second basement level contains additional storage and conservation areas for artwork as well as other technical spaces.

Officials highlight that the area in front of the museum has been designed as a forum - a cultural gathering space that serves as a bridge between the emerging Central Square and Świętokrzyski Park.