Spodek in Zenit. A Guide to Architecture from 1945 to 1989 in the Silesian Voivodeship
120 structures in 33 cities. Iconic works, Social Realist buildings, interesting examples of post-Thaw architecture, structural and technological experiments, large housing estates, and entirely new cities. This publication, which launches a series of guidebooks published by the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, explores the phenomenon of architecture of the Silesian Voivodeship.
The book’s title is derived from the names of two buildings in Katowice: the “Spodek” Sports and Entertainment Arena and the Zenit Department Store. This combination alludes to the new-past splendor of this architecture. The three decades that have passed since transformation aloow us to view designs from the socialist era from a different perspective. The passage of time helps us recognize both its strenghts and weaknesses, allowing us to view it without the negative associations tied to the era in which these buildings were constructed. The period of the Polish People’s Republic was an extremely difficult yet fascinating time for architecture. It was rich in diverse phenomena, stylistic approaches, design and construction hurdles.
There is something for everyone in Anna Syska’s guide – both those who are just beginning to explore the architecture of the Socialist era and those who are already quite familiar with it. The book allows readers to expand on what they already know, discover lesser-known buildings, and encourages them to rediscover places they pass by every day. It shows that buildings are not just walls and a roof, but also the stories behind them – the history and circumstances surrounding the construction of individual structures, as well as the lives of the people – designers, developers, builders, and users – who are inextricably linked to them.
The book is available only in Polish.
About the author
Anna Syska – Architectural historian. Co-author and editor of several books, author of dozens of academic papers. Her interests include, above all, 20th-century architecture, sports facilities, and the architecture of the Bata Shoes company. A lover of reinforced concrete. She runs the popular Instagram account @to_tylko_architektura. Director of the Municipal Museum in Tychy.
Colophone
Spodek w Zenicie. Przewodnik po architekturze lat 1945–1989 w województwie śląskim [Spodek in Zenit: A Guide to Architecture from 1945 to 1989 in the Silesian Voivodeship]
Author: Anna Syska
Series: Przewodniki [Guides]
Book design: kilku.com (Idalia Smyczyńska and Robert Zając)
Publisher: National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, Warsaw 2020
ISBN: 978-83-956466-1-4
Price: 59 zł