The former Forum Hotel in Krakow has been entered in the register of monuments. The decision was made on 10 October and once it becomes legally binding, the brutalist building will be under statutory protection. This means that any work on the property will require the consent of the conservation officer. At present, there are catering and service outlets in the building, and the whole thing presents a not very interesting picture.
Status of the monument and obligations of the owner
The entry in the register gives the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Krakow the possibility to inspect the condition of the building and make recommendations for necessary works. According to the Act, the penalty for obstructing the inspection is from PLN 500 to PLN 2,000, and for failing to carry out the post-inspection recommendations from PLN 500 to PLN 50,000. In the case of carrying out works without a permit from the conservator, a fine of up to PLN 500,000 can be imposed.
The Forum Hotel in Krakow a monument
The decision to place the hotel under protection was preceded by an inspection of the building, an archival analysis and an opinion from the National Heritage Institute. As indicated in the justification, the building meets the criteria for entry due to its historical, artistic, scientific and landscape values. It is an example of modernist architecture in the Brutalist style, a testimony to the modernising ambitions of the 1970s and 1980s, and an important element of Krakow’s identity and skyline. In addition, it has retained its original spatial layout and a high degree of material authenticity.
Designed by Janusz Ingarden
The Forum Hotel was built to a design by Janusz Ingarden, one of the leading figures in Krakow architecture of the second half of the 20th century. Construction began in 1978 and the official opening took place on 15 May 1988. The building was erected in a bend of the Vistula River, opposite Wawel Castle. At the time, it was regarded as the most modern hotel in Poland. It had four stars and was part of the IHG international hotel system.
The Forum Hotel in Krakow – the former charm
The seven-storey building had 278 rooms, including 19 single rooms and 15 suites. The building was fully air-conditioned and facilities included automatic doors, an electronic outdoor clock with thermometer, a swimming pool, sauna, solarium, wellness studio, tennis courts, mini golf and a casino. The hotel also had restaurants, bars, shops, a travel agency and numerous service outlets. The conference rooms hosted meetings and receptions for several hundred people.
Architecture and form of the building
The body of the hotel has the characteristic shape of an elongated, curved cuboid supported by six pairs of reinforced concrete columns. The façades, sloping in both directions, form strips of glazing with loggias on the river side. Above the whole is a set-back, glazed storey with a former panoramic café. The raw concrete juxtaposed with glass and ceramic details gave the building a distinct modernist character.
The Forum Hotel in Krakow – years of splendour and decline
Despite its high standard and modern facilities, the hotel only operated for 12 years. Its closure was explained by structural problems related to dampness and flooding of cellars by the waters of the Vistula River. In subsequent years, there were plans to demolish the building and build a new housing estate on the site, but these were never realised. Since then, the edifice has gradually fallen into disrepair, serving mainly as an advertising medium and a backdrop for city events. Only in recent years has part of the space been redeveloped.
Significance of the entry in the register of historical monuments
The entry in the register of historical monuments opens a new chapter in the building’s history. The Forum Hotel, one of the most important examples of Polish Brutalism, has gained formal confirmation of its value and a chance to be preserved for future generations.
Source: tvn24.pl, szlakmodernizmu.pl, smartage.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Kraków | Modernism | Brutalism | Elevation | Hotel
