Palace of Culture and Science
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The Palace of Culture and Science (Polish: Pałac Kultury i Nauki; abbreviated PKiN) is a notable high-rise building in central Warsaw, Poland. With a total height of 237 metres (778 ft) it is the second tallest building in both Warsaw and Poland after Varso, the 6th-tallest building in the European Union (including spire) and one of the tallest on the European continent.[1] Constructed in 1955, it houses various public and cultural institutions such as cinemas, theatres, libraries, sports clubs, university faculties, and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Since 2007, it has been enlisted in the Registry of Objects of Cultural Heritage.
| Palace of Culture and Science | |
|---|---|
Pałac Kultury i Nauki – PKiN | |
Palace of Culture and Science in 2019 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Multi-function |
| Architectural style | Socialist realism, Stalinist architecture and art deco |
| Location | Warsaw, Poland |
| Address | Plac Defilad 1 |
| Coordinates | 52°13′54″N 21°00′23″E / 52.23167°N 21.00639°ECoordinates: 52°13′54″N 21°00′23″E / 52.23167°N 21.00639°E |
| Construction started | 2 May 1952 |
| Completed | 22 July 1955 |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 237 m (778 ft) |
| Antenna spire | 237 m (778 ft) |
| Roof | 187.68 m (615.7 ft) |
| Observatory | 114 m (374 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 42 |
| Floor area | 123,084 m2 (1,324,865 sq ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Lev Rudnev |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 3288 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Motivated by Polish historical architecture and American art deco high-rise buildings, the PKiN was designed by Soviet-Russian architect Lev Rudnev in "Seven Sisters" style and is informally referred to as the Eighth Sister.[2] The Palace was also the tallest clock tower in the world until the installation of a clock mechanism on the NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building in Tokyo, Japan.[3]
History
Name
The building was originally known as the Joseph Stalin's Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki imienia Józefa Stalina), but in the wake of destalinization the dedication to Stalin was revoked.[4] Stalin's name was removed from the colonnade, interior lobby and one of the building's sculptures.
Construction
Construction started in 1952 and lasted until 1955. A gift from the Soviet Union to the people of Poland, the tower was constructed, using Soviet plans, by 3,500 to 5,000 Soviet workers and 4,000 Polish workers. Sixteen workers died in accidents during the construction.[5] The builders were housed at a new suburban complex built at Poland's expense, with its own cinema, food court, community centre and swimming pool, called Osiedle "Przyjaźni" (Neighborhood of Friendship).[4][5] The architecture of the building is closely related to several similar skyscrapers built in the Soviet Union of the same era, most notably the Main building of Moscow State University. However, the main architect Lev Rudnev incorporated some Polish architectural details into the project after travelling around Poland and seeing the architecture.[5] The monumental walls are headed with pieces of masonry copied from Renaissance houses and palaces of Kraków and Zamość.[5]
Shortly after opening, the building hosted the 5th World Festival of Youth and Students. Many visiting dignitaries toured the Palace, and it also hosted performances by notable international artists, such as a 1967 concert by The Rolling Stones, the first by a major western rock group behind the Iron Curtain.[6] In 1985, it hosted the historic Leonard Cohen concert, surrounded by many political expectations, which were avoided by Cohen in his prolonged introductions during the three-hour show.[7]
Four 6.3-metre (21 ft) clock faces were added to the top of the building ahead of the millennium celebrations in 2000. The clocks began working on 31 December 2000.[8]
Present day
The building currently serves as an exhibition centre and office complex. The Palace contains a multiplex cinema with eight screens (Kinoteka),[9] four theatres (Studio, Dramatyczny, Lalka and 6. piętro), two museums (Museum of Evolution and Museum of Technology), offices, bookshops, a large swimming pool, an auditorium hall for 3,000 people called Congress Hall,[10] and an accredited 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.[11]
The Congress Hall held the finals of Miss World 2006.[12]
In 2010, the illumination of the building was modernized and high-power LED lights were installed, allowing the Palace to take various colours at night.[13] The first use of the new lighting was during Christmas in 2010, when the Palace was illuminated in green and white to resemble a Christmas tree.[14] In December 2013, during the Euromaidan protests, it was illuminated in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian national flag as a sign of solidarity with the protesters.[15] On 29 January 2021, during the Women's Strike protests, the symbol of the movement – a single red bolt on a black background – was projected on the building.[16]
Controversy
The Palace of Culture and Science is highly controversial. It is often viewed as a reminder of Soviet influence over the Polish People's Republic, especially due to its construction during mass violations of human rights under Joseph Stalin.[17] Porozumienie Organizacji Kombatanckich i Niepodległościowych w Krakowie,[18] a coalition of veteran and nationalist groups, as well as Law and Justice (PiS) have called for its demolition.[19] In 2009, then Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski supported the demolition of the Palace noting the expense involved in its maintenance.[20] Other prominent government leaders have continued to endorse demolition plans, including current Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.[21]
See also
- List of tallest buildings in Poland
- List of tallest buildings in Warsaw
- Eighth Sister
- Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga
- Lighthouse of Alexandria
- House of the Free Press in Bucharest
- Museum of Communism, Warsaw
- Neoclassical architecture
- Oakland City Hall
- Parade Square (Plac Defilad)
- Socialist realism in Poland
References
- ^ [History of the Palace]. Pałac Kultury i Nauki (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
- ^ Sorokina, Anna (13 April 2021). "Where outside Russia can you find Stalin's skyscrapers?". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ . Emporis. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ a b BESTUFS Conference: Best Urban Freight Solutions (PDF) (Leaflet). 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
- ^ a b c d . Pałacu Kultury i Nauki (in Polish). Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
- ^ Tilghman, Timothy (n.d.). "Through The Past Darkly: The Stones Tumultuous 1967 European Tour". RockonTour.net. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
- ^ Wyszogrodzki, Daniel (n.d.). "Warsaw 1985". The Leonard Cohen Files. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ "Milenijny zegar odmierza czas już 12 lat". PolskieRadio.pl (in Polish). 2 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ . Kinoteka (in Polish). Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- ^ Zaborowska, Magdalena J. (1999). . Centre for Cultural Research, University of Aarhus. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2008.
- ^ . Pałac Kultury i Nauki. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ "Miss World 2006". CBS News. 2 October 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
- ^ "Stolica: ponad dwa miliony na oświetlenie Pałacu Kultury". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 9 September 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Świąteczne oświetlenie Pałacu Kultury i Nauki w Warszawie". RMF24 (in Polish). 23 December 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Pałac Kultury podświetlony w barwach Ukrainy [Zdjęcia]". Wyborcza.pl Warszawa (in Polish). 5 December 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Pałac Kultury i Nauki w Warszawie z czerwoną błyskawicą: "Jesteśmy z Wami"". Radio Eska (in Polish). 29 January 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ Babe, Ann (26 February 2018). "The Movement to Destroy Warsaw's Tallest Building". Next City. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Ile wywrotek potrzeba, by wywieźć gruz po Pałacu Kultury i po cholerę w ogóle to robić?". Noizz (in Polish). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Stawiany, Jacek (16 November 2017). "Tak wyglądałaby Warszawa bez Pałacu Kultury: Całkiem inne miasto? [Przed i po]". Metro Warszawa (in Polish). Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Bernatt, Maciek (17 November 2009). "Call for Demolition of Polish Palace". BBC News. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ "Top Politicos 'Dream' of Demolishing Stalinist Palace". Pulse.ng. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
Further reading
- Michał Murawski (2019), The Palace Complex: A Stalinist Skyscraper, Capitalist Warsaw, and a City Transfixed, Indiana University Press, ISBN 978-0-253-03996-5
External links
- Official site
- Palace of Culture & Science at Structurae
- Google maps view on Palace of Culture and Science