Spodek

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The Spodek arena at night, Katowice, Poland

Spodek (saucer in Polish) is a multipurpose arena complex in Katowice, Poland, opened in 1971. Aside from the main dome, the complex includes a gym, an ice rink, a hotel and three large parking lots. It is the largest indoor venue of its kind in Poland. It hosts many important cultural and business events. Music concerts are especially common non-sport events. Spodek can hold 11,500 people, although this number is in practice limited to 10,000 or even 8,000, due to stage set-ups obscuring the view. Its name means "saucer" in Polish, because it resembles a tilted flying saucer. Spodek is a major contribution to the cultural significance of Katowice in Poland, especially for the younger generations.

1 History
2 Technology
3 Spodek in popular culture
4 External links

[edit] History

The Silesian Uprisings Monument and Spodek

The idea of building a large venue originated in 1955, while Katowice was temporarily renamed to Stalinogród. A contest was held to select the best design. Initially, it was to be constructed on the outskirts of town, but the Voivodeship National Council decided it was to be built near the city center. A mining waste dump site classified "2A" was chosen for construction.

"2A" meant medium mining damage with a possibility of local cave-ins. When excavating the foundations, the workers digged coal instead of soil. Soon after the construction started, rumors about design flaws of the new building spread, including the rumour that the dome will collapse when the scaffolding is removed. Because of this, in 1964, construction was halted for 18 months. Spodek's architects and chief engineers entered the dome when the supports were dismantled as a response to those rumors. Obviously, they survived. Before opening the building to the public, endurance tests were conducted - 3,500 soldiers marched into the hall, and the vibration of the building was measured. Test outcome was positive.

Throughout Spodek's history, rumors have appeared alledging the structure's disrepair, concealed cracks, or even of it "falling apart". However, these rumours are not supported by any evidence.

[edit] Technology

Spodek in Katowice

Maciej Gintowt and Maciej Krasiński, architects of Spodek, designed the Spodek as one of the first major structures to employ the principle of tensegrity. The roof uses an inclined surface held in check by a system of cables holding up its circumference.

The structural engineer who conceived the unique tensegrity roof and made it work is Wacław Zalewski. His innovative structures include Supersam, a supermarket in Warsaw with a roof made up of alternating arches and cables, many unique industrial roofs in Poland, two basketball arenas in Venezuela with hanging roofs, the structure of the National Museum of Art in Caracas, the Venezuelan Pavilion at the Seville's Expo in 1992, and several bridges and roofs in South Korea.