The Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw has been the tallest skyscraper in Poland for several decades. It was built in the period 1952-55, by the decision of Joseph Stalin. The Palace of Culture and Science now houses museums, theaters, exhibition centers, the Polish Academy of Sciences, offices of companies and government agencies.
Polish society and government officials ambiguously perceived Stalin`s idea of building a skyscraper. Discussions on this matter are still ongoing, although the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw has long been one of the recognizable symbols of the city.
During the WWII, the Old Town of Warsaw was almost completely destroyed by German troops. After the war, Stalin decided to erect several skyscrapers in Moscow in the style of the Stalinist Empire, which were later called "Stalin’s Skyscrapers". They were a symbol of the post-war reconstruction of the city. The tallest building of them was the Moscow University. Its height was 240 meters. Until 1990, the University was the tallest building in Europe, until the Messeturm office building was built in Frankfurt am Main.
Joseph Stalin decided that since Warsaw had also damaged greatly during the war, one of these skyscrapers should be built here. And although their architectural style is called the Stalinist Empire, the skyscrapers of New York, which began to be built two decades earlier, were taken as a model.
The construction of the Palace of Culture and Science began on May 2, 1952. 3.5 thousand workers from the Soviet Union were brought to the construction site and funding also came from the Soviet government. The territory of the building`s construction site was 3.5 hectares. Initially, Polish architects chose a 180-meter building project, but in the end the height of the skyscraper was 237 meters.
The Palace of Culture and Science can be visited for the sake of the viewing point, which offers a wonderful view of Warsaw. This skyscraper is still the tallest in Poland. There is also a Planetarium and 4 museums: the Museum of Glass, the Museum of Technology, the Museum of Evolution and the Toy Museum.
