Q: Does the Palace play more of a commercial or public role?
A: In spite of playing commercial roles, the Palace primarily remains a public institution. It is the showcase of Warsaw. It has a multiplex and three theatres. It is home to the Muzeum Techniki and the Youth Palace. International conferences are held at the Kongresowa Hall along with concerts by international stars. Major exhibitions and fairs are organized here. I cherish this spirit of acting in the public interest, which I derive from my former career in Polish Radio. I am very satisfied with the fact that we are able to support national cultural institutions and act for their benefit. This job gives me a sense of working for a special institution and offers plenty of room to operate in.
Q: What is the legal status of the Palace of Culture and Science?
A: The Palace is owned by the city of Warsaw, but it is administered as a company based on commercial law. The building encompasses a number of cultural and educational institutions. Individual rooms and office space are offered for rent. There are more than 3,000 rooms with a combined floor area of over 140,000 square metres.
Q: Is there any free space to rent?
A: Not at the moment. But some of the contracts expire after a while. Some companies move out, so office space becomes available to potential new users. We are happy that prestigious institutions and companies have sought to rent office space here. Their presence further boosts our image. The Palace houses the Polish Academy of Sciences, the private university Collegium Civitas, the World Trade Center, UNICEF, UNESCO, numerous foundations and business companies.
Q: Why was Palace of Culture and Science included on the list of historical monuments?
A: For more than fifty years of existence, the Palace has become an inseparable part of the Warsaw cityscape. The decision to include it on the list of historical monuments made in February 2007 stirred a lot of controversy. But it was applauded by a number of architects and art historians. The acclaimed architect Stefan Kuryłowicz is a great supporter. In his view, the palace meets all the requirements, because it is a Warsaw icon present in on postcards, in films and TV programmes. In the interiors you can find a great many captivating features and décor, which making the Palace part of the heritage list will allow to be kept intact. But of course we take a very practical approach toward the fact that the Palace is regarded as a historical monument. It is a living thing, which keeps developing as a business and commercial centre. But the fact that it is now perceived as a historical landmark is bound to attract the attention of not just architects, but also visitors. With them in mind we are working on a leaflet showing how unique its architecture is. It will bring out the design of the most interestingly decorated rooms, as well as other key features.
Q: Is the view of Warsaw from the thirtieth floor of the Palace still a must-see thing for a visitor?
A: Going up there by lift is probably less of an attraction than, say, forty or fifty years ago. But the viewing platform remains popular with visitors. It is throbbing with life. From there you can comfortably admire all of Warsaw. You can combine the visit with a look at a couple of interactive exhibitions. One of the shows – to be held until September – is entitled “Have Fun with Einstein”. Another exhibition will be called “Sports and Spinach”. One of the ideas we are considering is placing a museum of wax figures in the foyer on the viewing platform level.
Q: What surprised you the most as you explored the Palace interiors?
A: It’s a mysterious place, which holds many surprises. I was astonished to find a falcon’s nest on the fortieth floor. The birds have been breeding there for more than a decade now. They are under the constant eye of ornithologists who watch them with the use of a camera. I was surprised to find a large number of cats living in the basement, who make sure that rodents don’t take charge of their domain. Then there are crows, which drop nuts and stones, often breaking glass. Last year during maintenance work a walled-up room was discovered containing building equipment from the 1950s, the time when the Palace was built. I’m sure there are plenty more secrets waiting to be discovered.