Spodek
Maciej Gintowt + Maciej Krasiński + Jerzy Hryniewiecki · Katowice, Poland · 1971
Spodek is a large arena whose saucer-like roof and flared concrete base give it one of the most recognizable silhouettes in post-war Polish architecture. Its cable-supported roof system reduces internal supports and allows a flexible central event space, while the exterior transforms a demanding engineering solution into a powerful civic image. Opened in 1971 in central Katowice, the building became a symbol of the industrial Upper Silesian region and remains a major example of late-modern sports and entertainment architecture driven by structural experimentation.