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Palace of Culture and Science

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Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science is the second-tallest building in Poland. It is in Warsaw. It is 237 metres high.

An agreement about the building was signed between the governments of the Polish People's Republic and the Soviet Union on 5 April 1952. The tower was an imposed and unwanted "gift" to the people of Poland.[1][2] It was erected with great propagandist fanfare and named after Joseph Stalin upon its completion in 1955.[3] Stalin's name was later removed from the colonnade, interior lobby and one of the building's sculptures.

To decide on the height of the building, Soviet and Polish architects gathered in the area of the Śląsko-Dąbrowski Bridge on the east bank of the Vistula river. Over the site of the future skyscraper flew a small plane pulling a balloon behind it. The group standing near the bridge had radio contact with the pilot of the plane. First, the balloon flew at an altitude of 100 m (330 ft), then higher at 110 m (360 ft) and 120 m (390 ft). The Soviets, led by Lev Rudnev, decided that 120 metres (390 ft) was enough for the highest point of the city. The Poles, led by the plenipotentiary for the construction of the building and chief architect of Warsaw, Józef Sigalin, began to shout "Higher!" after every 10 m (33 ft) of balloon height increase. Finally, the tower was set at a height of 237 metres (778 ft), with a 120 m (390 ft) main structure, a 40 m (130 ft) turret and a 77 m (253 ft) spire.[4]

In 2024 it is used as an exhibition centre and office complex. There is a multiplex cinema with eight screens,[5] four theatres , the Museum of Evolution and the Museum of Technology, offices, bookshops, a large swimming pool, an auditorium hall for 3,000 people called Congress Hall,[6] and a university, Collegium Civitas, on the 11th and 12th floors of the building. The terrace on the 30th floor, at 114 metres (374 ft), is a well-known tourist attraction with a panoramic view of the city.[7] The Warsaw City Council and city offices are located in the building.

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References

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  1. ↑ Dawson, Andrew H. (1999). "From Glittering Icon to..." The Geographical Journal. 165 (2): 154–160. Bibcode:1999GeogJ.165..154D. doi:10.2307/3060413. ISSN 0016-7398. JSTOR 3060413. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. ↑ Jabłoński, Krzysztof (1984). "Kronika odbudowy, budowy i rozbudowy 1945–1982". Warszawa: portret miasta (in Polish). Warsaw: Arkady. ISBN 83-213-2993-4.
  3. ↑ Magdalena J. Zaboroska (1998). "Stalin's "Cold War Cathedral" as Architext and Autofiction: The Identities of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, Poland". In Craig Barton (ed.). 86th ACSA Annual Meeting Proceedings, Constructing Identity. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  4. ↑ "Pałac Kultury i Nauki kończy 65 lat!". Warszawa w Pigułce (in Polish). 1 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Wynajem sal". Kinoteka (in Polish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Zaborowska, Magdalena J. (1999). "The Height of (Architectural) Seduction: Reading the "Changes" through Stalin's Palace in Warsaw, Poland". Centre for Cultural Research, University of Aarhus. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
  7. ↑ "Viewing Terrace "XXX Floor"". Pałac Kultury i Nauki. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
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