In 1971-1978, over 2.2 million apartments were built in Poland. Most were created in the so -called blocks from a large slab. Although there are no barcode on these buildings and information “you should live to” (and here date), it was known from the beginning that it was construction, although it satisfies burning housing needs, it is not the most durable. – When blocks made of large slab were built, it was difficult to determine the exact plan of their strength. In various studies we will find various forecasts, but it is on average that these buildings should last about 70 to 100 years – says Katarzyna Kuniewicz, director of the Otodom market research. The life of buildings from a large slab depends primarily on the durability of connections between the plates.
Great demolition album? It has been prevented for several decades
This term is approaching, especially when we look at the beginnings of large -panel technology in Poland. The first housing estate in Krakow's Nowa Huta was erected in 1957 and the first large housing estate was established in Warsaw in Rakowiec seven years later – in 1963. Here for the first time this technology was tested on a larger scale and from that moment its use began throughout the country, Therefore, it became a dominant method of building in the times of the Polish People's Republic. Effect? Dozens of years later, the number of large -panel blocks in Poland is about 60,000 buildings with 4 million apartments. This state has been lasting 30-35 years. It is estimated that 10 to 13 million people live in blocks of large disc. It can therefore be assumed that in 2025 every fourth Pole lives in buildings created in this technology. Does this mean that we are at the threshold of a great resettlement action?
– As for the production of such buildings, the period of the most intensive construction falls in the 1970s, so we have been behind us 50 years since then, but so far there are no signals for these buildings to pose any threat – says Katarzyna Kuniewicz . – The great album was created as part of a huge housing program invented in the 1950s, when the state decided to provide flats for workers, often working in large factories, such as in Nowa Huta. The estates, actually all “micro cities”, were built massively, because first the prefabricated factories were built, which allowed the rapid erection of buildings. If there were now, to conduct a similar program, there would have to be appropriate technology for mass and efficient construction of buildings. Importantly, despite constant controls, you can't hear any serious technical problems related to these buildings – he adds.
Especially since these housing estates have not been falling apart since the 1970s, but are undergoing renovations that can extend their service life even twice. – large -panel blocks that have not yet undergone major renovations are rare. Pioneering insulation was already carried out in the 1980s. Interestingly, the first major renovation program of large -panel blocks began in 1981 – he tells us Andrzej Prajsnar, expert on the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.
In the 1980s, the state granted cooperatives to non -returnable loans for renovations related to, among others with leakage and freezing of the walls and defects in the central heating installation. Thanks to this, a lot of problems were removed shortly after the blockage was built
– he adds. According to construction law, inspections in these buildings must be carried out to a limited extent every year, and in detail every five years.
Thermomodernization of salvation. It made the great album still manage
One of these “problems” was really significant and making life difficult in the PRL estates. Heat escaped from large -panel buildings. – It was carried out huge warming action these buildings. This was of great importance, because earlier these buildings absorbed huge amounts of energy. What's more, they released them in various forms. Warming improved their energy efficiency, and this was absolutely necessary. Although the construction of buildings did not pose a threat, their high energy demand required such modernization – says Katarzyna Kuniewicz.
– Starting from the 90s, the trend of insulation of large -panel blocks began to be more pronounced. Some older insulation will definitely require corrections due to low quality and efficiency – notes Andrzej Prajsnar. Therefore, the process of their thermomodernization is still ongoing. In 2020, even a special offer for communities and cooperatives was prepared. It involves increasing the thermomodernization bonus with additional support of 50 percent. cost strengthening of a large -panel building (by installing anchors designed to strengthen the connections of plates layers). It operates until June 30, 2026 – in the case of large -panel buildings, it is easier to facilitate the fact that they are characterized by a large average number of apartments per one block. This concentration of premises means that the positive effects related to thermo -modernization can be achieved by renovating a relatively small number of buildings – explains the expert of the RynekPierwotny.pl portal.
As a result of the great “thermomodernization” campaign, she was so -called pastel revolution. – When the buildings were insulated, they had to be painted, and the result was blocks in shades of pink, celadon or blue. It was a specific testimony of thermomodernization. Although not everyone likes these colors, I know fans of such a style – Katarzyna Kuniewicz tells us. That is why buildings from large album throughout Poland have various colors.
Big CD problems. These are not ideal housing conditions
However, the insulation of buildings from a large slab solves only one of many problems that are related to this type of construction. – Exchange of elevators is a different topic except thermomodernization, which will appear more and more often in the context of large -panel buildings, but also other older blocks – indicates Andrzej Prajsnar. – The modernization of staircases and playgrounds could also be useful. They were finally created in the 70s – adds Katarzyna Kuniewicz. However, this type of construction has “disadvantages”, which are somehow inscribed in their characteristics, which is why no large modernization programs will change them.
– The biggest disadvantage is the layout of apartments. In many cases, we are dealing with passing rooms, which can be uncomfortable. In addition, many apartments from this period have smaller areas than modern ones, and some architectural solutions, such as the lack of windows in kitchens, can be problematic. However, for years changes have been made in such apartments to improve their functionality – says the director of the Otodom market research. The layout of apartments not adapting to today's standards is actually “unreamed”. Buildings made of large slab are made of materials that prevent any interference in the location of the walls. What's more, there are high repetitive housing estates. After all, they are buildings made of prefabricated elements that were built massively. That is why it is hard to look for apartments in one block with a different room. They are usually the same for the entire block and even a housing estate. At that time, drivers were not thought at the time, so the blocks of large slab do not have underground parking lots, and parking the car under their own block in many places borders on a miracle. You can also add relatively small balconies for today's realities.
However, the data of Otodom, which was shown Next.gazeta.pl, shows that despite numerous defects, Poles are still willing to flats in a large album. In December 2024, apartments from the secondary market accounted for 43 percent. apartments on the Otodom portal, of which 40 percent they were those created in 1945-1990. – Interesting the share of apartments from a large slab from the post -war period to be built in the near future, but now there is a considerable number. These flats are constantly and very intensively exploited, because they are either put up for sale, or are often also apartments offered in the rent – comments this data Katarzyna Kuniewicz.
Poles willing for apartments in a large record. It attracts not only the price
Interestingly, interest in these apartments does not decrease, despite the fact that prices in a large album are not as attractive as it used to be.
10 years ago, and even 5-7 years ago, if information about a large album appeared in the advertisement, it usually affected the lower price of the apartment. This was because these apartments were associated with a worse standard, especially those built in the 1980s. The price difference was then 10-15 percent. depending on the location
– explains the director of the Otodom market research to us.
– The situation has been changing for several years. Today, the announcement that the apartment is in a block of large disc has no such negative impact on the value real estate. This is due to factthat new apartments begin to resemble flats from a large record in terms of space, which makes the differences in prices become smaller – he adds.
Poles simply appreciated the values of this construction. – Buildings made of large slab are often located in well -connected places, close to city centers and with easy access to public transport. In addition, the estates themselves are characterized by a large space around the buildings, which means that they are not as crowded as others – says Katarzyna Kuniewicz. The buildings of these housing estates are much less intense. In their area there are large playgrounds and rich vegetation. It seems that this is nothing great, but these are elements of urban infrastructure less and less often including modern construction in projects.
The trend on the real estate market is, moreover, that modern housing estates are starting to resemble more and more those built during the PRL from prefabricated elements. – In terms of technology, a large slab housing estate cannot compete with construction from the last 20-25 years. However, equally large housing estates built by development companies are being built more and more often. Visually, these new buildings differ from the large album only in that they are not pink. As for their scale and repeatability, they do not impress, just like some buildings from a large album – adds Katarzyna Kuniewicz.