Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science
The 230.68 metre (757 foot) tall Warsaw Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland and the 187th tallest building in the world. Completed in 1955, the design of the building is of course in the Stalinist architectural style, and very similar to the previously featured Moscow State University1.
The palace was actually a gift from Joseph Stalin to the people of Warsaw, and it’s said that when he offered the people the option of either a metro system, or the palace – the people chose a metro. So naturally Stalin gave them this palace.
Warsovians apparently hated this huge building, both in terms of design and political symbolism. Since Soviet domination over Poland ended in 1989 however, most of Warsaw’s residents have come to accept it as an important and integral part of their skyline.
More at Wikipedia and at the official site.
Thanks to Alexandra, Maciej Godlewski, Hubert Grzywacz, Yano and Max.
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Which itself is one of seven similar skyscrapers Stalin had built in Moscow. ↩
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I watched Michael Palin last week too
Stolen form Michael Palin’s new europe =P. A seriously ugly building though XD
D’you know what? I actually missed it this week! Seriously, I didn’t know this building was on there – I just finally decided to actually write it up (it had been in my drafts for near-enough 2 years…)
It really is a big coincidence!