Katowice. Saucer with additional protection

The Katowice saucer will go to the register of monuments of the Śląskie Voivodeship. Provincial conservator of monuments Anna Ostrowska announced the initiation of proceedings in this case.

On Monday, the Provincial Office for the Protection of Monuments in Katowice published a statement in which the Provincial Conservator of Monuments referred to the planned demolition and rebuilding of Spodek's external terraces.

– The saucer is protected from the fact of taking it in the municipal register of monuments (…), which means that the building permit or demolition regarding this facility seems to be after agreement with the voivodship conservator of monuments. Refusal to agree excludes the possibility of issuing such a permit – explained Anna Ostrowska.

She emphasized that she has not yet received the appropriate application in this matter, so she could not determine whether the planned activities would be accepted by her. She added that she had commissioned the expert to assess whether it was possible to adapt the terraces to safety requirements without demolishing them.

Proceedings in the coming days

– In the coming days I will be initiated by the entry in the register of monuments of the historic building complex covering Hala Spodek and the accompanying buildings – announced Anna Ostrowska.

Poor state of terraces

The expertise carried out in 2023 showed that the state of terraces of the sports and entertainment hall is a threat to its users. Therefore, the local government in Katowice announced a tender for the implementation of project documentation regarding their demolition and reconstruction. Two offers were submitted: 585.2 thous. PLN and 934.8 thousand zloty. The maximum amount planned for this purpose is 879.6 thousand. zloty.

Inspired by the cosmos

The Katowice sports and entertainment hall resembles a flying saucer. This is an example of Space Age architecture, which in the 1950s and 1960s fueled the space race between USA and the USSR, and inspired visions of space exploration.

The Spodek project was prepared by Maciej Gintowt and Maciej Krasiński. Wacław Zalewski and Andrzej Żórawski were responsible for the construction. Its shape was not dictated only by aesthetic considerations. The reinforced concrete foundation bowl was fixed on poles-holds, which-in combination with a small surface contacting the ground-is to protect the object from mining shocks and damage. During the construction, 4,000 soldiers tested the strength of the structure.

The hall was opened in 1971 by organizing the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of the Third Silesian Uprising. A year later, the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro spoke in it, and during the exhibition of cars a toddler, Fiat 126p, was presented for the first time.

Over the years, Spodek became famous for, among others from the concerts of the world's greatest music stars, music festivals, the matches of the Polish volleyball team and international e-sports tournaments played in it.