Cultural evolution

Over the course of the next few years, Szczecin will welcome two new public-purpose buildings and a shopping center, significantly freshening up its downtown area.

The first of these projects, is the city's new Opera House. The design competition for the Opera House was won in June by Barcelona's Estudio Barozzi Veiga.

"The main prize goes to Spain, because their project has a unique shape and atmosphere," said architect Marek Dunikowski, the chairman of the jury. The new opera house, with its iceberg-like shape, is expected to become a symbol of Szczecin and one of the city's central meeting spots. According to the plan, the building will house two concert halls - a larger one for 800 people, and a smaller hall for 300.

It will be situated on ul. Małopolska, on the site of the pre-war Konzerthaus. As much a zł.80 million is needed for the project, part of which will be raised by the city council. Construction work is scheduled to begin in 2008 and the opera house should be open in 2010.

Other projects

In the meantime, the city council has announced the signing of a contract with German-based developer ECE Projektmanagement, according to which a new building for the Pleciuga puppet theater will be constructed, as well as a shopping center. The children's theater will be constructed first, with construction work scheduled to begin in September and last a year. ECE is financing the investment itself and will donate an additional zł.500,000 for cultural initiatives in Szczecin.

Following this project, the firm will begin work on the Galeria Kaskada, shopping center, which will offer around 160 stores and restaurants in a total space of 125,000 sqm. "Galeria Kaskada will definitely return the big-city vibe to this part of Szczecin," said ECE's president Jan Dębski.

"The investments will revive the city's downtown area and promote a new model of cooperation between local authorities and foreign investors," said Piotr Krzystek, the Mayor of Szczecin.