Skyscrapers of Warsaw: Zlota 44

Zlota 44

Main data:

Height to the roof: 192 m
Total height: 192 m
Number of floors: 55
Planned term of finishing: 2013
Designer: Daniel Libeskind
Location: ul. Zlota 44/46

The story of this building lately became famous in the whole Poland and even further. Initially, it seemed that in 2010 in the quarter between Swietokrzyska, Emilii Plater, Jerozolimskie Avenue and John Paul II Avenue we will have another, already fifth skyscraper. But its construction was stopped for almost 2 years and an unfinished skeleton stood just in the middle of the city for all that time. Finally, in January 2011 the construction was resumed and it seems that finally the building will be finished probably in 2013.

Not a long time ago, at Zlota Street 44/46 a shopping centre City Center used to stand. It was a quite modern and interesting building, which was built in the beginning of 1990s. It was designed by Jerzy Skrzypczak, a co-author of Intraco II and Marriott Hotel.

In 2005 the plot of City Center was bought, together with the building, by Luxembourgian company Orco. The cost of the transaction was 41,5 million zlotys. Initially, the company was renting space in the City Center, but that was only temporarily. Later the demolition of the building was started. For some people it could be a pity, as the building was actually new and looked quite well. But economic reasons decided. In such attractive place it was more profitable for the company to disassemble the building and replace it with a new, much higher one. A fact, that some part of the previous building - an underground car park was retained and will be used for the new skyscraper may be a small consolation for those who will miss the City Center.

The new skyscraper, which is supposed to replace the City Center, was designed be famous American architect with Polish roots, Daniel Libeskind. He designed, among other things, the well-known Jewish Museum in Berlin and won the competition for the project of a new building in the place of destroyed towers of World Trade Center in New York. The Warsaw Libeskind's project has aroused a lot of interest, just after first news about it appeared. And that was not only because of the designer's name but also because of an unusual form of the new skyscraper. The building was called a "glass sail" - because of its smooth form, light, almost transparent colour and a characteristic cut on the top. The "Glass sail" will have the most luxurious apartments in the city, and also located in the highest place in Warsaw. Altogether, 251 flats, of different spaces, will be located here. On the lower floors, like in most Warsaw skyscrapers there will be some space open for public, with shops. The building will have 54 floors and will be 192 metres high. That means it will reach a very high place in the ranking of Warsaw skyscrapers. Precisely, it will be third place (evenly with Rondo 1) if we count the total height, with masts and antennas; or the second place, if we count buildings without antennas and spires; or even the first one - if we also take under consideration buildings without masts and if we decide that the spire of Palace and Culture is also only a mast, not an integral architectural element.

In the second half of 2007 the demolition of City Center was started. Initially, also in 2007 the construction of the new skyscraper was planned to be started. But a delay appeared, because of a protest made by residents of the neighbouring block of flats. An agreement was signed; the investor promised to pay a compensation and to strengthen the block's structure and to repair the roof. Nobody has even thought it was not the end of the trouble with the residents.

Until March 2009 the construction was going on very fast, a new floor was constructed in a few or just more than ten days. Unfortunately, on 16th of March 2009 the construction was stopped at 17th floor. Later, some small works were done, but that was actually only to preserve the existing phase of the construction. In June 2009 two cranes were disassembled and then, for a long time nothing was going on at the construction site. Initially, the reason why the construction was suspended was financial trouble of Orco. The company did not manage to sell as many flats as it planned (until now, about 30-40 % of them were sold). Finally, new sources of financing were found and it seemed that in the first half of 2010 the construction will be continued.

But it was not, because a new problem appeared: the construction permit was cancelled. It may sound ridiculous, that such decision is possible, but it really happened that way. A protest made by a few residents of the neighbouring block of flats caused that. No matter for the agreements made previously between them and the investor, the residents said that the construction permit was given illegally and they demanded that the construction was stopped. During the trial it turned out that in fact, there was a mistake during the construction permit procedure. But, what is worth underlining, it was not the fault of the investor, only of an administration department, while passing on documents.

Because of this absurd situation for almost two years we have had an unfinished skeleton (of about 1/4 of the target height) just in the middle of the centre, instead of the new, valuable skyscraper. It is worth mentioning that, oppositely to some other large investments, which did arouse some controversy or even protests, opinions about this building were generally very positive among most of Warsaw inhabitants. A lot of people, architects, as well as the city's authorities and also ordinary people has really kept their fingers for the skyscraper's construction. It seems that the centre of Warsaw simply did not have luck for a long time: the area of Palace and Culture, which has been undeveloped for many years, the neglected Central Station, Emilii Plater street which was ruined until lately and now also this unfinished building. But finally, it seems that with all of that places something really has started to change for the better: new local plan of development of Palace and Culture area will hopefully initiate new investments in this area; the Central Station is currently during renovation, also Emilii Plater street was modernised lately. And, in January 2001 first workers appeared again also at the construction site of Zlota 44 and the first crane has been installed. In spring 2011 the construction has speeded up again. Now we can only hope that there will be no more trouble with it and the building will be finished in 2013. On 2nd of February 2012 a ceremony of topping out, with fireworks' show took place.

More information about the project can be found on its official website: http://www.zlota44tower.com/en and also on the website of Orco Property Group: http://www.orcogroup.pl/company/projects/z%C5%82ota-44.

Visualisations of new skyscraper - from the website of Orco Property Group:

Photos of the skyscraper's building site:

Photos taken on 1st of September 2007 - the building of City Center is being knocked down:

Photos taken on 5th and 6th of May 2008 - beginning of the construction:

Photos taken on 25th and 26th of September 2008 - the structure reached 4th floor:

Photos taken on 10th of December 2008 - the structure reached the level of 8-9 floors:

Photos taken on 10th and 13th March 2009 - last days before a break - the building reached 17th floor and since that date the construction did not go ahead: