PALACE OF CULTURE AND SCIENCE

Warsaw, Poland

Due to heavy WW II bombing, much of the historic architecture of Warsaw was reduced to rubble. The city is now modern, with urban architecture, like most major cities. But nestled in a tight quarter called the old town are the remains of some of the city’s vintage work – palaces, churches, restaurants and plazas. The hotel concierge guided me to Palace of Culture and Science as one of the more well-known landmark buildings in the city, noting its 30th floor observation deck from which the entire city could be viewed. The building was an unwelcomed gift from the USSR to the Polish people. Inspired by historical architecture and American art deco high-rise buildings, the Palace was designed by Soviet-Russian architect Lev Rudnev in the ‘Stalin’ style. The design is reminiscent of Chicago’s 1927 Leverque Tower. Many Polish people wish the building was gone, even today. At the time of its completion, the 778-foot tall steel structure was the eight tallest building in the world. The construction took three years with 9,000 workers, and caused 16 deaths. Shortly after opening a Frenchman jumped to his death from the observation deck, followed later by eight Polish people. The deck’s openings were then closed with wire mesh, which remains today.