Transforming the heart of a European capital

The New Centre of Warsaw aims to attract talent and business through a series of projects that include sustainable transport and redesigned spaces with pedestrians in mind.

Few European capitals embody resilience and reinvention quite like Warsaw. Razed to the ground during the second world war and hastily rebuilt in the post-war years, the city has spent decades navigating the balance between remembrance and modernisation. Today, Warsaw is once again redefining itself, this time through one of the most ambitious urban regeneration initiatives in Central Europe: the New Centre of Warsaw.

This comprehensive transformation project, spanning key downtown districts on both sides of the Vistula River, is reshaping the Polish capital’s representative core into a green, walkable, culturally vibrant heart of the city. For investors and developers in real estate and infrastructure, the New Centre is both a symbol of Warsaw’s ambition and a source of long-term opportunity.

“In the long run, Warsaw is positioning itself as a dynamic, sustainable, and inclusive metropolis. We’re focused on smart growth, high-quality public spaces, and strengthening community engagement,” said deputy mayor Renata Kaznowska in an interview with Warsaw Business Journal. “The changes we’re making now will shape the city for the next 20 years, ensuring that Warsaw remains one of Europe’s most livable and forward-thinking capitals.”

Historically dominated by traffic, Warsaw’s centre is now evolving into a public transport- and pedestrian-first environment. The city now has 825km of bike lanes after 150km were added in the past five years.

The introduction of Warsaw’s first pedestrian-and-cycling bridge across the Vistula marks a turning point. Opened in 2024, the 452-metre structure links the bustling boulevards of the city centre with the historic Praga district, offering not only connectivity, but also leisure zones with seating and panoramic viewpoints.

These projects reflect a deliberate shift in mobility priorities, making sustainable transport the default option and re-establishing the centre as a place for people rather than vehicles.

Greening the grey

Key to the New Centre is an ambitious deconcretisation strategy that involves removing paved surfaces and replacing them with trees, shrubs, lawns and rain-resilient landscaping. The transformation of Central Square illustrates this approach vividly: once a car park, it has been reimagined with 102 trees, 550 shrubs and 81,000 perennials, irrigated by underground retention reservoirs designed to capture stormwater. A mass events zone and restored pre-war street layout tie history to modern utility.

Similarly, the renewal of Chmielna and Bracka streets has created lively promenades lined with nearly 200 new trees, outdoor seating, and flexible space for cafes, shops and cultural events.

Culture at the core

Beyond mobility and greenery, Warsaw is positioning its centre as an open cultural hub. Two flagship institutions anchor this ambition: the Museum of Modern Art opened in 2024; and the TR Warszawa Theatre is currently under construction. Both were designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners. Together they will form a dynamic cultural district next to Central Square, drawing both locals and visitors into the renewed heart of the capital.

Public squares such as Pięciu Rogów and Powstańców Warszawy are also being designed as venues for outdoor events, from concerts to food festivals, embedding cultural and social life into the everyday urban fabric.

The urban transformation is not limited to Warsaw’s western downtown core. With investments such as the New Streets of Old Praga and the Vistula footbridge, the city is extending its transformation eastward, gradually knitting together districts on both sides of the river.

This new wave of projects builds on earlier milestones – most notably the opening of the second metro line a decade ago, which marked a qualitative shift in cross-river mobility – and complements the large-scale revitalisation still underway in Praga. Together, they represent the next steps in narrowing the gap between western and eastern Warsaw, positioning Praga as an increasingly vibrant destination for residents, creatives and investors.

For the city, the strategy is about overcoming physical and psychological divides, ensuring that the benefits of centrality extend across the metropolitan core. For real asset investors, it opens up fresh development opportunities in a district poised for transformation.

Remembering while modernising

Warsaw’s DNA is rooted in remembrance, and the New Centre reflects this ethos. Central Square’s design, for instance, recalls the grid of pre-war streets destroyed during the war, while restoring historic details such as granite chandeliers. By weaving memory into new public spaces, the city ensures that modernisation does not erase history, but instead builds upon it.

A magnet for investment and talent

The New Centre is more than an urban beautification exercise; it is a strategic play to attract talent, business and capital. Warsaw has already become a magnet for international professionals, particularly since the influx of new residents after the war in Ukraine. With its population now exceeding 2.3 million, the city requires infrastructure and public spaces that can match global standards.

For real estate investors, the project enhances the value proposition of central Warsaw across multiple asset classes:

• Retail and F&B benefit from reactivated ground floors and pedestrian-friendly streets.
• Offices gain from improved transport accessibility and a more attractive urban environment for workers.
• Residential demand is supported by mixed-use development, nearby amenities, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Cultural and leisure assets strengthen Warsaw’s profile as a regional hub for tour-ism and the creative economy.

The public-private model underpinning several investments, such as underground parking concessions and integrated streetscape projects, also demonstrates opportunities for long-term partnerships.

A model for Europe?

The New Centre of Warsaw is emblematic of a wider European trend: cities reclaiming central space for people, sustainability, and cultural vibrancy. Yet the scale and symbolism in Warsaw are unique. The city is reshaping its centre by balancing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users after decades of car dominance.

Warsaw is no longer just a cost-competitive office destination in Central Europe. It is evolving into a forward-looking, resilient metropolis, where investments in logistics, housing, retail and culture are underpinned by strategic focus.

As the new cultural squares, pedestrian corridors, and green arteries take shape, Warsaw is not only transforming its downtown but also redefining what it means to be a modern European capital — one that honours its past while investing decisively in its future.