Hotel "Cracovia"

The Hotel Orbis "Cracovia" is a modernist building constructed between 1960 and 1965, designed by Witold Cęckiewicz, and built on the foundations of the originally planned Trade Unions House (Dom Związkowca) in Kraków. At the time of its opening on June 22, 1965, it was the longest (150 m) and one of the largest and most modern hotels in Poland, offering 510 sleeping accommodations across 309 rooms and 9 suites. Its structure, based on a reinforced concrete slab, was innovative, and the use of a large-panel system significantly accelerated the construction process. The "Cracovia" Hotel was equipped with a large restaurant, a café, a conference hall, and a casino. As a culturally significant venue, it served as a filming location for movies such as "Jowita" and "Spis cudzołożnic" (List of Adulteresses). In 2011, it ceased operations as a hotel, and the building was sold to Echo Investment. After changes in ownership, in 2016, the property was acquired by the National Museum in Kraków; that same year, it was entered into the register of historical monuments. The museum organized a series of exhibitions, including ones dedicated to the history of the hotel and contemporary artists. The building, which in the 1960s was a symbol of modernity, now serves a cultural role as a venue for exhibitions and presentations of Polish designers. The foyer is adorned with mosaics designed by Krystyna Zgud-Strachocka and Helena and Roman Husarscy, highlighting the artistic character of the venue. Currently, the ground floor houses the Design Forum, where works of native artistic craftsmanship are displayed. The history of the "Cracovia" Hotel is an example of the dynamic changes in Polish architecture and culture, illustrating social transformations in Poland over the past six decades.