After several delays it seems that the 192 meters high Złota 44 residential tower in Warsaw downtown will finally be able to be completed. The spectacular new building by Daniel Libeskind, located halfway between the old town and central station, is supposed to provide space for 251 luxury apartments across 55 floors. A characteristic feature of the design is the asymmetrically curved skyscraper’s silhouette, artfully composed of multiple geometries, resulting in the citizens of Warsaw calling it “sail”. For a long time it seemed as if the expensive new building would end up abandoned and half-finished. The foundation of the internationally acknowledged project was laid in September 2008.
However, due to the financial crisis, the investor Orco had run out of money literally over night. And when construction works were finally to be continued in summer 2010, the building license was suddenly missing, since local residents have gone to court against the project. Only in October the decision was finally made that the hitherto 18-story building skeleton was able to be continued. Being an architect can be quite tiresome at times! Despite the delays at least the façade is scheduled to be completed by the time of the FIFA soccer European championships in 2012.
And in 2013 at the latest the first tenants are supposed to move into the new building, which is from then on going to be a fixed part of the Warsaw skyline. Libeskind, having a Polish-Jewish background, considers his new building to explicitly be a symbol of change in Poland’s capital. And this can only do the city good. Since up to this day Warsaw looks like a torso in many areas: On the one hand, the old town was re-built during the 50s true to original after its total destruction during World War II, on the other hand Warsaw received its Palace of Culture as a “gift” from Stalin, dominating the cityscape up to this day with its height of 231 meters and its monumental architecture in the style of socialist classicism. Demolishing this much-hated building has never been an option really. However, combined with other skyscrapers such as the Intercontinental Hotel (163 meters), the Warsaw Trade Tower (208 meters) and the "Rondo 1-B" (194 meters) the new building by Libeskind will contribute to the Palace of Culture no longer dominating the city. Which is a good thing! Something people will have to get used to, however, are the prices for the apartments one third of has already been sold, which are at nearly 7,000 Euros per square meter. At least regarding real estate prices the city has come closer to Moscow again. mapolis would like to thank the ORCO Poland team for providing pictures and information.
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