A short history of Warsaw Skyscrapers

Warsaw is for sure neither one of most beautiful capitals in Europe, none among the most beautiful cities in Poland. The city seems to be grey, dull and chaotically build-up. And even in the centre there are many still undeveloped areas. But, despite that, we have in Warsaw also many interesting places. For sure, Warsaw skyscrapers can be examples of such places. Those buildings, because of their scale, attract attention the most. They arouse controversy among some people, on the other hand, others are fascinated with them. Off course, our skyscrapers do not belong to the highest in the world. But still, Warsaw is the only city in middle-eastern Europe with such high structures. And, what is more, skyscrapers have been built here since many years!

Tsar times (before First World War):

The first building, which was described as skyscraper was built already in 1908. And it stands still! It is the building of PASTa at Zielna street. This 51-metre-high building was the highest one until 1931. Today it does not look huge anymore, but at that time it was probably the highest building in the whole Russian empire!

The times between First and Second World War:

In 1931, at Napoleon Square (today Warsaw Insurgents Square) the building of Prudential insurance company (today Warszawa Hotel) was built. Its scale looked really impressing at that time. Some people from the countryside were coming to Warsaw especially to see it.

1950s and 1960s:

After the war, in 1955, between Swietokrzyska street, Marszalkowska street, Jerozolimskie Avenue and Emilii Plater street the famous Palace of Culture was built. Before that, a lot of houses that had survived during the war and still had been standing at that area, were knocked down. This monumental, 231-metre-high building is still the highest one in the city and the highest structure in Poland, except radio masts and power plants' chimneys. During 1950s and 1960s none building of that scale was not built. But today, its domination over Warsaw is weaker and weaker, because of new skyscrapers.

1970s:

First modern skyscrapers in Warsaw, Intraco I and Forum Hotel (today Novotel Warszawa Centrum) were built in mid-1970s. Although, they were constructed already in communistic times, they were modelled on western patterns. Both were built by Swedish companies.

1980s:

That was the time when Warsaw actually started to climb higher and higher. In order to weaken the domination of Palace of Culture buildings of so-called western wall or centre-west: Intraco II and Marriott Hotel were constructed. They are both simple boxes, they do not have complicated architecture, however they are quite elegant.

1990s:

In 1991 the Blue Tower at Bank Square (Plac Bankowy) was eventually finished after many years of construction. But a real boom in building industry started in the second half of 1990s. That was the time when the most of Warsaw skyscrapers arose. The most famous and the highest among them are Warsaw Trade Tower (formerly Daewoo) and Warsaw Financial Centre. Besides, a lot of other a bit lower buildings were constructed: FIM Tower, Ilmet, Reform Plaza (today Millenium Plaza) and PZU Tower.

21st century:

In the last years, although the economic situation was a bit worse than it used to be in 1990s, a lot of new skyscrapers have been built. In the first years of 21st century two luxurious hotels: Intercontinental and Westin, apartment buildings Babka Tower and Lucka City and the skyscraper of TPSA were built. In 2006 the construction of one of the most beautiful and highest buildings in Warsaw, Rondo 1, was finished and in 2007 a shopping and entertainment centre Golden Terraces was opened, a 105-metre skyscraper is a part of it. And it seems that we will still have more and more skyscrapers. Currently 4 high buildings are under construction. The most impressive and the highest of them is Orco skyscraper, which is planned to be finished in 2010. And there are plans (more or less advanced) of construction of nearly 20 more skyscrapers.