Służew nad Dolinka, formerly known as Służew nad Dolina, is one of the housing estates located in Służew in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. The place is distinguished by both its interesting history and unique architecture, being one of the flagship residential developments of the communist years in Poland.
The Służew nad Dolinką estate is located in the south-eastern part of Mokotów, in the area of the Służew Municipal Information System. Its area covers approximately 52.4 hectares, and the whole consists of two parts: the western and the eastern. The estate is criss-crossed by streets named after famous composers such as Jan Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or Józef Elsner, which creates a specific atmosphere of the place. The boundaries of the housing estate are marked by Puławska, Wałbrzyska, Kałmicica and Łukowa Streets, as well as the Służewska Valley with the Służewiecki Stream running from the south. It features two natural monuments in the form of erratic boulders, as well as the entrance to the Służew metro station.
1977. Photo: National Digital Archive, Grażyna Rutowska Archive Group
Construction of the housing estate began in 1973, and the ‘Mokotow’ Housing Cooperative was responsible for the project. In 1991, with the division of the cooperative, the name of the estate was changed to ‘Służew nad Dolinką’, reflecting the characteristic landscape of the valley in which the estate is located. The western part of the estate, designed by Janusz Nowak, Piotr Sembrat and Jerzy Kuźmienka, was completed in 1978. It was awarded the title of Mister Warsaw by the daily newspaper Życie Warszawy. This part of the housing estate consists of buildings of different heights (4, 11 and 13 storeys) built using the H-frame technology, which was an innovative solution at the time.
The eastern part of the housing estate, designed by Janusz Kazubiński and Maria Zalewska, was built between 1976 and 1979. It contains buildings of similar height, with 916 flats, intended for around 3,200 residents. The architecture of the Służew nad Dolinką estate is a true example of architectural creativity from the 1970s and 1980s. The buildings are characterised by a varied body and colour scheme that differentiates the various sectors of the complex. The dominant colours are white and intense colours such as red, blue, green and black. Large balconies supported by reinforced concrete pillars are also a characteristic element, giving the buildings a unique appearance. Plenty of space has been provided for greenery. There is no shortage of green areas on the estate itself either – some 3,000 trees grow here, with dominant species such as maple, lime and birch. Combined with the Służewska Valley and the Służewiecki Stream, this place is a green oasis in the middle of the city.
Służew nad Dolinką is a place that has inspired many artists. The well-known painter Zdzisław Beksiński lived here for a while, and his tragic story is commemorated with a mural on the building at 6 Sonaty Street. The estate is also a place associated with the rapper Ted, who spent his youth here, and the name of his album ‘Esende Mylffon’ comes from the abbreviation of the estate’s name – SND. There is also no shortage of pop culture references. The estate appeared in the TV series “Zmiennicy”, directed by Stanisław Bareja, and in Joanna Chmielewska’s novel “Lesio”.
Today, the Służew nad Dolinka housing estate continues to develop. The “Służew nad Dolinką” housing cooperative continues its development activities, building new buildings, such as the Walbrzyska 21 development, which includes 160 residential units, a dozen or so commercial units and almost 250 parking spaces. The estate also includes the “LAND” Shopping Centre, which has been an important shopping and meeting place for Mokotow residents since the 1990s.
Służew nad Dolinką is an estate with a unique character that combines history, modernity and greenery. Thanks to its thoughtful architecture, its links to culture and the arts, and its convenient location, the site remains one of the most interesting and attractive residential areas in Warsaw.
Source: nowawarszawa.pl, smsnd.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Curiosities | History | Modernism | Warsaw
