Rooftop Gardens of the University of Warsaw Library

Viewing Point in Warsaw

CC BY-SA 3.0 / Bromaski

The rooftop gardens of the University of Warsaw Library (Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie) are an extraordinary oasis tucked above the city’s bustling Powiśle district. Designed by landscape architect Irena Bajerska and inaugurated in 2002, this green space spans over 1 hectare, making it one of the largest and most innovative rooftop gardens in Europe. The garden is divided into two connected levels—an upper and lower terrace—joined by a gently cascading stream and linked via bridges, pathways, and pergolas.

The upper garden—open to the public from April through October—is artfully sectioned into four color-themed zones named after plant palettes: gold (forsythia), silver (shrub cinquefoil, silver willow), carmine (red-leaf barberry), and blue (clematis Cassandra). Each portion delivers a unique sensory experience in both hue and scent, with carefully selected vegetation flourishing in substrate depths ranging from 200 to 400 mm depending on species and terrain slope. Throughout the roof’s design, engineered systems—such as ZinCo’s Floradrain® and irrigation—ensure plant survival and roof sustainability under urban conditions.

Meanwhile, the lower garden, accessible year-round, includes a serene fish pond where ducks often linger, and a sculptural installation by Ryszard Stryjecki, imbued with cosmological symbolism. Visitors are treated not only to lush greenery but also panoramic vistas of the Vistula River, Copernicus Science Centre, PGE Narodowy Stadium, and Warsaw’s skyline—especially dramatic when viewed through the garden’s glass-domed skylights that peek into the library below.

In essence, the BUW rooftop gardens offer more than aesthetic pleasure—they’re a living experiment in urban ecology and sustainability, blending architecture, education, and leisure. These spaces function as inviting “third places” where students, locals, and tourists alike can pause, reflect, or study surrounded by nature—without ever leaving the heart of Warsaw.

The Rooftop Gardens of the University of Warsaw Library appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Warsaw!

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