Silesian Planetarium with the title of Modernisation of the Year 2023. The investment was carried out by Budimex

The Silesian Planetarium in Chorzów received the title of Modernisation of the Year – Construction of the 21st Century 2023 in the 27th edition of the Modernisation of the Year – Construction of the 21st Century competition. The investment realised by Budimex between 2019 and 2022 was rated highest in the category of public buildings. Out of more than 500 investments submitted for the competition, only the best 20 were awarded. The redevelopment project was carried out by Consultor Architekci from Poznań

The modernisation of the Silesian Planetarium was commissioned by the Marshal’s Office of the Silesian Voivodeship. The scope of work included the rebuilding of the existing building, as well as the creation of a new underground usable area and viewing tower with a “camera obscura” device inside (Latin for optical darkroom – a prototype of a photographic camera). Construction work on the investment lasted 34 months

Photo: Budimex

The Silesian Planetarium was built in 1953-1955 according to the visionary design of the Cracovian architect Zbigniew Solawa. The then main screening room, which could accommodate around 400 viewers, was equipped with a 1,000-square-metre canvas spherical screen and a state-of-the-art projector. It was capable of displaying more than 8,000 stars in the artificial sky. At the same time, the astronomical observatory also began operations, equipped with the largest refractor in Poland with a diameter of 30 centimetres. Four years later, a seismological station began operating in the planetarium, and in 1963 a climatological station was opened. After 63 years of uninterrupted operation, the original building of the Planetarium – the symbol of the Silesian Park – was in need of major renovation. It is now entered in the register of monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship under No. A/399/13 and remains under the protection of the Municipal Conservator of Monuments in Chorzów

Photo: Budimex

The building, with a total area of 7,084 m2, was extended by 3,200 m2 of usable space. Four parts of the building were modernised, each with a different purpose and a completely different design: Planetarium, Observatory, auxiliary building and small observatory. The old and new parts of the planetarium are connected by a panoramic lift, located on the west wall of the clock courtyard. A significant area of the new part of the building is below ground level and was constructed using reinforced concrete technology. New dolomite slabs were installed in the façade of the main building, which, following the recommendation of the conservation officer, were delivered from Libiąż

Photo: Budimex

The modernisation of the Planetarium, a 68-year-old building under conservation protection, together with the extension is a real masterpiece in engineering terms. The construction struggled against a period of pandemonium and drastic price increases, but also against difficult geotechnical conditions, material requirements and the need to secure the historic building for future years of use. After reconstruction, the planetarium is one of the most modern facilities of its kind in Poland

Source: budimex.pl, muratorplus.pl, budownictwo.org

Read also: Architecture | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | History | Architecture of the PRL