A brand new, eighth ‘Star’ is being built on Walentego Roździeńskiego Avenue in Katowice to complete the layout of the famous housing estate. The complex of towers was designed in the 1970s by Aleksander Franta, Henryk Buszka and Tadeusz Szewczyk. The buildings became famous at the time for their rather unusual form and the impressive scale of the project. The skyscrapers, erected on the plan of eight-pointed stars, form a system resembling the Great Trunk from a bird’s eye view.
The eighth “Star” and its design
The eighth building was designed by Maciej Franta, the grandson of one of the ‘fathers’ of the original concept. The man has created a building that is intended to complement the existing set of towers and remain in relationship with them. According to the architect, the project is based on a reinterpretation of the scheme known from the 1970s and adapts it to the contemporary needs of users. The massing has been planned as an inversion of the proportions of the skyscrapers already standing, which has made it possible to remain consistent with the character of the famous estate, while emphasising the individual expression of the new building. This one will consist of 24 above-ground and three underground storeys. The building will contain 364 flats and commercial premises, as well as a wellness area with a gym and sauna of more than 150 square metres. The new ‘Star’ will also include a lobby of a higher standard and a rooftop space of 400 sqm. The building will receive a metallic cladding with an undulating surface, giving it a slightly futuristic feel.
The “Star” housing estate in Katowice
“Gwiazda” was built on the site of the former Katowice Coal Mine. Construction work began in 1970 after analyses of the subsoil confirmed that it was possible to build high buildings at this site. For safety reasons, however, the ground was reinforced with 30-metre-long piles. In the first phase, three high-rise buildings and a school were built. A further four structures were completed in 1978, thus creating a complete layout of seven buildings. In the following years, upgrades were carried out including insulating and refreshing the facades and remodelling the entrance areas. Over time, housing communities began to function and a cooperative was established in one of the buildings. Residents are actively involved in consultations on the transformation of the ensemble’s surroundings, responding to changes in local plans and nearby infrastructure.
Architecture and layout of the estate
Each of the seven high-rise buildings measures 81 metres with 27 storeys. The star-shaped floor plan has allowed the units to be arranged in a way that reduces energy loss and benefits from light. The buildings were constructed using formwork technology with pumice concrete. The flats range from approximately 54 to 62 square metres, and each has three lifts and extensive security systems.
Eighth “Star” in Katowice
The new skyscraper is planned according to the 15-minute city model. This means the presence of services, education, recreation and transport within walking distance of the building. There are shops, restaurants, clinics, public transport stops and a network of cycle paths in the vicinity. Trust Investment is responsible for the development. According to the developer, the new high-rise is intended to reinforce the urban layout of one of the most recognisable residential complexes in Poland. In his view, the building acts as a development of the vision started more than 50 years ago, complementing this space, closing the whole composition and building another layer of the development of the estate against the background of the changing realities of residential architecture.
Source: Trust Investment
Also read: Architecture | Modernism | Block | Katowice | Architecture in Poland
