Very often, modern architecture growing in the historic parts of cities simply cancels out the charm of the cosy streets and the comfort of the slums. But not in countries where tradition is respected and history is valued. And if a new building has atypical forms and unusual architecture, it is destined to be an object of admiration for the citizens and a must-see tourist attraction. Such a landmark is Poland’s crooked house, which in less than a decade has become one of the country’s most striking assets.
The crooked house in Sopot: what does it look like?
In 2004, architects Szotinski and Zalewski built a unique house in Sopot with no right angles. The architects were given the task of fitting the new shopping and leisure complex into the historic town centre as faithfully as possible, while attracting as many visitors and customers to the shops, restaurants and bars as possible, and were inspired by the drawings of Jan Marcin Schanzer and Per Oskar Dahlberg, who designed children’s books, to create a true masterpiece.
On the one hand, the building looks like a toy house, and seems to be made of some plasticine or jelly. But despite all the absurdity, the crooked house in Sopot stands firmly on its “feet” and will not collapse at all. The house has not a single right angle on the outside and everything inside is quite functional. The ground floor houses a cosy restaurant and shops, while the first floor is occupied by the radio studios.
As for the size of the building, its surface area does not exceed 4,000 square metres, i.e. it is a very small house. Once you enter the unique building, a wide staircase invites you to go up to the first floor, unless you want to have a coffee in a café or do some shopping in the shops. But if you skip the stairs and leave the café on the right and go straight ahead, you can see the famous Wall of Fame, where celebrities and the public leave their autographs. The fact that show business sharks visit the building is proved by the fact that there are two radio stations on the first floor of the building.
Crooked House in Poland: The Flow of Life
The Crooked House in Sopot bustles with life on weekdays and weekends. The summer cafés at the entrance to the shopping centre refresh drinks and satisfy hunger, the slot machines on the ground floor offer unforgettable moments of excitement to gamblers, and shopping in such an interesting place is also much more pleasant.
Every day, thousands of citizens pass in front of this house, hurrying about their business or leisurely strolling through the city centre. Tourists should not only document the building for their photo reportage, but also take a picture in front of the unusual Polish crooked house, and even buy a souvenir of this architectural wonder.
The historic centre was planned and built in accordance with the requirements of town planning. The crooked house does not differ from the neighbouring buildings neither by the height of the building nor by the architectural details. Not even the abundance of glass on the façade and roof qualifies the building as ultra-modern. Everything is present here in moderation: rational constructivism, fairy-tale absurdity and even a touch of fantasy.
If you are intrigued by the architecture of the building and definitely want to see what’s inside, you can always visit the official website of the crooked house and see photos of each floor. You can also take a virtual tour and walk around the mall and get a good look at both the interior and exterior.
Poland’s unique crooked house could not go unnoticed by the Internet community, and in another vote it was voted the most unusual and original building in the world.
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