The 36-metre-high observation tower on Góra Parkowa in Krynica-Zdrój is becoming one of the region’s most promising tourist attractions. Its glass structure, blending into the landscape of the Spa Park, offers visitors a wide panorama of Krynica, the Beskid Sądecki mountains and the distant Tatra Mountains. The investor behind this structure is Polskie Koleje Linowe PKL SA.
The new observation tower on Góra Parkowa in Krynica-Zdrój has become one of the most recognisable points in the panorama of the health resort. It is distinguished not only by its 36-metre height, but also by the way it harmonises with the surrounding Spa Park. The structure was designed to organise the tourist space of the hill without overwhelming the historic park layout. The large-scale glazing allows the structure to blend into the landscape, and visitors can enjoy a full panoramic view of Krynica-Zdrój, the Beskid Sądecki mountains and, in favourable weather conditions, the Tatra Mountains.
Architecture subordinated to the landscape
The location of the building in a historic park required special attention to proportions and materials. The glass used not only opens the structure to its surroundings, but also reduces its visual mass. As a result, the tower does not compete with the natural terrain, but complements it. The central viewing terrace, partially sheltered from the wind and cold, allows visitors to enjoy the attraction all year round without having to give up direct contact with the space.
The upper part of the tower was designed on a circular plan, which required precise structural solutions. Instead of using curved glass around the entire perimeter, the designers opted for a modular façade based on simple elements. Carefully selected profiles and seals created a smooth, light form without any clear divisions. Only in one particularly exposed place was large-format curved glass used, creating the effect of a glazed bay window suspended above the slope. This solution reinforces the impression of lightness and openness of the structure.
Glazed floor
The most exciting element of the tower is the glazed floor of the bay window. It was designed so that there are no visible supports underneath it. The entire load is carried by the perimeter structure, which required the individual development of the parameters of the glass and steel load-bearing elements. The multi-layer pane with increased load-bearing capacity ensures complete safety, while giving visitors the impression of walking in the air.
All external glazing is made of glass with a solar control coating and a pattern visible to birds. The investor assures that such solutions reduce interior heating and improve user comfort, while protecting birds from collisions. In a facility located in the green part of the health resort, the environmental aspect was as important as the technical parameters.
Historical references
The walls of the tower core at ground level will be used as a space for exhibiting archival photographs, which, thanks to illuminated light boxes, will introduce visitors to the atmosphere of pre-war Krynica. The accompanying audio commentary will tell visitors about the views and stories associated with Góra Parkowa, creating a narrative that connects the present with the past.
The observation tower at the top of Góra Parkowa, in addition to its observational function, also serves as a kind of time machine, transporting tourists back to the 1930s. It was built in the over 200-year-old Spa Park, on the site where, nearly nine decades ago, there was a wooden pulpit serving as a viewing point. Today’s structure allows visitors to rise above the treetops and look out over the spa town surrounding Parkowa Mountain, and on a clear day, they can also see the Beskid Mountains and the distant Slovakian Tatra Mountains.
source: press materials from WIŚNIOWSKI, PKL Group
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