OVERLOOKING THE VISTULA. THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE KOÅšCIUSZKO EMBANKMENT AND THE MIDDLE OF THE POWIÅšLE DISCTRICT IN WARSAW, 1910–1939

FILIP BURNO

The article concerns the history of Warsaw’s boulevard, Wybrzeże KoÅ›ciuszkowskie. It discusses the urbanization of the PowiÅ›le district in Warsaw, touching upon the most important buildings erected there before WW I. Much attention is also devoted to the history of the development of the part of PowiÅ›le located between the Tamka and Czerwonego Krzyża streets, especially to the transformation of this previously neglected area into one of the most elegant parts of the capital, achieved thanks to the initiative of Warsaw urban planners and the municipal authorities. The paper also stresses the turning points that sped up the urbanization process in PowiÅ›le: the construction of the Poniatowski Bridge and the “Facing the Vistula” programme initiated by the major of Warsaw, Stefan StarzyÅ„ski. In addition to buildings and designs, the paper discusses wider cultural phenomena connected with the urbanization of PowiÅ›le and the extension of Wybrzeże KoÅ›ciuszkowskie boulevards, e.g. the use of the area for rallies as well as for sport and recreation.

Key words: PowiÅ›le, Warsaw architecture in 1910–1939, Warsaw regulation plan, modernization of PowiÅ›le