DZIEJE BUDOWY GMACHÓW PAŃSTWOWEGO INSTYTUTU GEOLOGICZNEGO ORAZ ICH ARCHITEKTURA (1919–1936)

Abstract

HISTORY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS OF THE POLISH GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE AND ITS ARCHITECTURE (1919–1936)

Abstract. The first provisional seat of PGI was several rooms in the Staszic Palace in the Krakowskie Przedmieście Street in Warszawa. It was not satisfactory for the newly established Institute. Therefore, director of the Institute Józef Morozewicz prepared an appropriate memorial and attempted efforts to construct new properly designed buildings. The ideas of Józef Morozewicz were positively accepted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The final decision to construct new buildings was approved by the Parliament on May 30, 1919. In order to build the Institute, a state-owned plot of land was granted (22,500 m²) in Mokotów between the streets of Rakowiecka, Wiśniowa and Kazimierzowska. Famous architect Marian Lalewicz was chosen to design the buildings. The main problems arose from the difficult economic situation of the country and limited funds for construction works that proceeded very slowly. First, the southern pavilion was completed during 1923–1926. The official opening and consecration of the unfinished main pavilion took place on December 22, 1929, in the presence of Minister of Industry and Trade E. Kwiatkowski and other distinguished guests. However, further constructions took next seven years and were finally finished in June 1936. On May 17, 2013, the main pavilion was devoted to and named to Józef Morozewicz.