Skyscrapers of the Eastern Wall
Main data:
Height to the roof (northern / middle / southern building): 75/75/75 m
Total height: 93/85/103 m
Number of floors: 25
Year of construction: 1969
Designers: Zbigniew Karpinski, Jan Klewin
Location: ul. Swietokrzyska 35, ul. Zgoda 13, ul. Chmielna 35
Three simple-shaped skyscrapers, situated at the eastern side of Marszalkowska street, opposite the Palace of Culture, are one of the most characteristic objects in the centre of Warsaw. Those buildings are parts of so-called Eastern Wall - an urban composition, which was created in 1960s. At those times those buildings, with shining aluminium elevations were symbols of modernity. Till today they became completely grey, fortunately in 2009 their renovation was started.
Before Second World War that part of Marszalkowska street was the heart of the city. But it looked completely different than today. It was tightly built-up, houses were situated on both sides of the street, most of them were built in 19th century and were 4 or 5 floors high. A tram line was situated in the middle of the street, like today. The street was narrower than today and already then - often stuck by traffic jams. In the houses most luxurious institutions in the city were located - hotels, restaurants, cafes, clothing shops, confectioners' shops, beauty salons, banks and cinemas (between Swietokrzyska and Jerozolimskie Avenue there were four of them - "Capitol", "Swiatowid", "Apollo" and "Stylowy").
Unfortunately during Second World War all that part of the city was nearly completely destroyed. The only exception was the house of "Russia" Insurance Company at 124, Marszalkowska Street. That building gained completely different elevation after the war, that is why it used to be called "The house under toilet bowls". Today, after the renovation in 1990s the house has another, completely different appearance.
Between 1945 and 1960s the eastern side of Marszalkowska was built-up by rough-and-ready, mostly one-floored houses, with small shops. At the end of 1950s a competition for the project of this area's development was organised. It was won by a design by Zbigniew Karpinski and Jan Klewin. From 1960 its realisation was started (in a bit changed form).
The Eastern Wall is today one of a few completely finished urban compositions. Although we can doubt if the scale or form of some of its buildings are appropriate, it is a fact that it is one of most ordered parts of the centre of Warsaw.
Besides three skyscrapers the Eastern Wall also include:
- 4 lower, 12-floored blocks of flats;
- the building of former Relax cinema (today - a supermarket);
- Sezam (Sesame) department store - the first Mc Donald's restaurant opened in Poland is located here;
- a complex of Centrum department stores, previously called Wars, Sawa and Junior, today known better as Galeria Centrum;
- a one-floored building with KFC restaurant;
- Uniwersal - an example of typical Polish office building from socialistic times, unfortunately usually it is tightly covered with advertising sheets;
- Rotunda - an office building of a bank, another very unusual building and even one of symbols of Warsaw, a tragic event is connected with this
building - on 15th of February 1979 a gas explosion took place here, in result 49 people were killed and probably more than 100 were injured;
Another part of the Eastern Wall composition is called Pasaz Wiecha (Wiech Passage). Its name commemorate well known Warsaw writer and satirist who often used in his works Warsaw local dialect. The passage is a pedestrian route, situated at the back of Centrum department stores, which goes from Widok street to Sienkiewicza street. In 1960s and 1970s the place was a very attractive public space, later it was not renovated for many years so its condition was poorer year after year. Finally in 2006 its renovation took place, since than the passage is much more attractive but still it is not perfect - mainly because of not very professional finishing of the floor. During the renovation also boards with information about the history of this place were put, as well as the high masts with unusual 'wings' on their tops. A bit earlier also the renovation of Centrum department stores took place. Its walls from the side of Pasaz Wiecha are covered with climbing plants since then. In the future, also a renovation of squares next to the passage is planned.
The three skyscrapers with flats are the most characteristic elements of the Eastern Wall, visible from far away. They were built as last parts of the composition - they were finished in 1969. They all have 25 floors and are 75 metres high (without masts and antennas).
Although today three skyscrapers of the Eastern Wall are rather neglected, their architectural form is for sure one of the best among Warsaw skyscrapers. They have a simple, modernistic shape, with right angles and with smoothly cut corners. Rows of windows form regular divisions of their elevations. Thanks to aluminium tiles the elevations were initially white, but today, when those tiles became matt, they have rather a dirty-grey colour.
All three buildings are blocks of flats. In 1960s and 1970s for many people to live here was the biggest dream. Even today, mainly because of convenient, central location, the flats are very attractive. Unfortunately, the technical standard of the buildings was not very high. There is no gas installation here, neither the previously planned alarm systems. Generally, the buildings quickly became neglected, many breakdowns kept happening. A story, proving that the buildings' technical condition was always low, is known. There was once a party on one of last floors. One of the participants wanted to rest a little bit, so he decided to go to the roof, just to breath with fresh air for a while. Unfortunately, it occurred that it was not a good place for a walk, the ceiling collapsed, and the unlucky individual fell down to the flat on the last floor. The woman who lived there started to scream immediately, thinking that it was a burglary. Her husband, who ran from another room when he heard the scream, started to beat the unfortunate fellow instantly, without paying attention to his attempts to explain the situation.
In 2009 a renovation of the buildings started. Its aim is to bring them back to their initial greatness. The tiles on the elevations will be replaced with new ones, thanks to that the buildings will gain a new, silver colour. In 2009 the middle skyscraper will be renovated, and in next years the other ones, one in each year.
General views of the Eastern Wall:
The northern skyscraper:
The middle skyscraper - before the renovation:
The middle skyscraper - during the renovation:
The southern skyscraper:
(C) 2001-2010 Maciej Blazejewski