A unique monument – the beaded lift in the Silesian Voivodship Office in Katowice – has been reopened after a completed restoration. Restored with great attention to detail, it once again impresses with its appearance of almost a hundred years ago. It is one of the last such working mechanisms in Poland and a symbol of a modernist building with a rich history.
The Bead Elevator – interwar heritage in the heart of Katowice
The Silesian Provincial Office building is one of the most important and recognisable public buildings in Upper Silesia. Built between 1924 and 1929 to a design by Ludwik Wojtyczka, it was a symbol of the dynamic development of the region after parts of Upper Silesia were incorporated into the Second Republic. The building’s architecture combines modernism with classicist elements, creating a monumental yet harmonious whole. Its impressive interiors and functional technical solutions, including a system of bead lifts, made it one of the most modern official buildings in the country from the very beginning.
A lift that never stops
Against the backdrop of the building’s lavish design and architectural grandeur, a particular technical detail stands out – the bead lift. This is an extremely rare type of passenger lift today, moving continuously in a closed loop without stops. It consists of 14 cabins connected in a chain, which move at a speed of 0.286 m/s – a full cycle takes exactly 192 seconds. This unique mechanism was put into service with the building in 1929. It served the office’s staff for decades until, in 1980, the original wooden cabs were replaced with chipboard versions due to modernisation. Although the lift was still in operation, it had lost its original appearance and former charm.
The bead lift at the Silesian Voivodship Office in Katowice – before and after renovation
The bead lift restored to its former glory
Thanks to a major restoration just completed, the bead lift has regained its historic character. The entire mechanism was renewed, the shaft was restored and new wooden cabins styled after the original from 1929 were installed. Care was also taken to ensure compliance with current safety standards – fire curtains, among other things, were installed. During the press conference, the Silesian Voivode Marek Wójcik emphasised that the bead lift is the only one of its kind operating not only in Katowice, but in the entire voivodeship. The meeting with journalists was also attended by vice-voivodes Adam Zaczkowski and Michał Kopański and the office’s general director Katarzyna Błaszczyk-Domańska.
A monument in the service of everyday life
Bead lifts, also known as paternosters, were popular in the early 20th century, especially in administrative buildings in Germany and Austria. Few of them have survived to this day, and even fewer operate in their original form. Katowice’s example is therefore not only a relic of the past, but also a working work of engineering and a symbol of the prestige of an office that has been the administrative centre of the region for almost a century.
Source: Silesian Provincial Office in Katowice
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