Katowice’s Spodek, an icon of post-war architecture and one of the most recognisable buildings in Poland, is about to gain exceptional status. The hall is in the process of being entered in the register of monuments. Although it is already more than half a century old, it still impresses with its futuristic silhouette and innovative construction, which still delights even today. The entry in the register is intended as formal recognition of the architectural and historical value of Spodek – a symbol of Katowice, without which it is difficult to imagine the city’s skyline.
Architectural revolution from the People’s Republic of Poland
Spodek, designed in the 1960s and ceremonially opened on 8 May 1971, is a unique work of art not only on a national scale. Originally, the hall functioned under the name Regional Sports and Entertainment Hall in Katowice. It was the result of an initiative that originated back in 1955, when Katowice was called Stalinogród. The competition for the design was won by a team of architects Maciej Gintowt and Maciej Krasiński from the Warsaw-based Office for Studies and Typical Projects of Industrial Construction. Andrzej Żórawski was responsible for the construction, based on the suspended roof concept by Wacław Zalewski, known, among others, from the Warsaw Supersam. Construction began in 1964 on the site of a former smelter heap, close to the very centre of Katowice. However, work was halted for a year and a half as there were suspicions of possible construction errors. In the end, the project defended itself and went down in history as one of the world’s first examples of implementation using the tensegrity system – a technology based on the mutual balance of compressive and tensile forces.
Spodek: cosmic form and engineering precision
The distinctive form of the Spodek, reminiscent of a flying saucer, is the result of combining two functions: an auditorium and a sports hall. This necessitated a compromise layout for the auditorium, combining a central arena with a directional stage layout. The main dome, weighing 300 tonnes, was suspended by 120 steel cables, connected to an outer structural ring. The roof was covered with a grid of trusses and the façade was decorated with resin scales. On the inside, it is sculptural modernism of the highest order. An ice rink, a gymnasium and a hotel have also been integrated into the complex, connected by a mezzanine floor into a unified, functional whole.
From communist rallies to rock concerts
In its long history, Spodek has seen everything: from party speeches attended by Fidel Castro or Leonid Brezhnev, to opposition rallies with Lech Wałęsa, to concerts by world stars and spectacular sports shows. In 2009, the venue underwent extensive modernisation: the number of seats was increased, modern VIP boxes were added, a LED screen and modern lighting were installed. Since 2016, it has been managed by PTWP Event Center and its calendar is filled with volleyball matches, concerts, conferences, trade fairs or revues on ice.
Spodek is in need of renovation
The Spodek currently requires urgent renovation work. An expert report from 2023 has shown that the terraces surrounding the hall are in a poor state of repair and pose a danger. The city plans to demolish them completely and faithfully reconstruct them, preserving the original form and keeping the materials as similar as possible. This is to be ensured by the ongoing procedure for entering the building in the register of monuments. Although old, Spodek does not cease to be a lively and necessary place, and will soon be additionally protected. As a monument, it will gain not only status, but also the chance to survive the next decades in great shape.
Source: tvp.pl, spodekkatowice.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Modernism | City | History | Interesting facts | Katowice
