Śródmieście-Zachód

Śródmieście-Zachód (''Downtown-West'') is a municipal neighbourhood in the city of Szczecin, Poland, within the Downtown district. It is a mid-rise housing estate dominated by tenement houses. The neighbourhood has an area of 0.53 km², and in 2022, was inhabited by 12,114 people. The area was developed in the 19th century, with construction of tenement houses. Within its boundaries are located the Pionier 1907, one of the oldest continuously-operated cinemas in the world, dating to 1909, and a portion of a campus of the West Pomeranian University of Technology.

History

In the second half of the 19th century, in the area between current Piastów Avenue, Polish Army Avenue, Kopernika Street, and Narutowicza Street, were developed tenement houses.B. Kozińska: ''Rozwój przestrzenny Szczecina od początku XIX wieku do II wojny światowej''. Szczecin, 2002. (in Polish) In the 1980s, alongside the current Polish Army Avenue, were developed the Concord and Grey Ranks Squares, originally known as the ''Bismarck'', and ''Arndt Square'', respectively.Tadeusz Białecki (editor): ''Encyklopedia Szczecina, tom 2: P-Ż''. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 2000, p. 365, 698. (in Polish) Additionally, at the intersection of current Piastów Avenue and Bolesława Krzywoustego Street, was formed the Tadeusz Kościuszko Square, then known as the ''Schinkel Square''.Tadeusz Białecki (editor): ''Encyklopedia Szczecina. Wydanie jubileuszowe z okazji 70-lecia polskiego Szczecina''. Szczecin: Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Kultury, 2015, pp. 476–477, ISBN 978-83-942725-0-0. (in Polish)

In 1909, at the current 2 Polish Army Avenue, was opened the Pionier 1907 cinema, known until 1945, as ''Helios'', and the ''World Theatre''. Prior to its official opening, the location hosted movie screening as early as 1907. It is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating cinemas in the world, and from 2005 to 2008, it was listed in the Guinness World Records.

A portion of the neighbourhood's tenements were destroyed during the Second World War, and replaced after the conflict with socialist realist apartment buildings.Tadeusz Białecki (editor): ''Encyklopedia Szczecina. Wydanie jubileuszowe z okazji 70-lecia polskiego Szczecina''. Szczecin: Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Kultury, 2015. ISBN 978-83-942725-0-0. (in Polish)

In 1946, in the nearby neighbourhood of Turzyn, at 37 Sikorskiego Street, was founded the Szczecin University of Technology. In 1947, at 50 Piastów Avenue, was founded its Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture.Paweł Gut: ''Polskie początki akademickiego Szczecina (lata 1946–1955)", n:Piotr Niedzielski, Waldemar Tarczyński (editors): ''Akademicki Szczecin: XVI-XXI wiek'', Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 2016, pp. 115–120, ISBN 978-83-7972-071-2 (in Polish) In 2020, it was split into the Faculty of Architecture, and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, with the latter remaining in the building.

In 1959, at 8 Polish Army Avenue, was opened the Kosmos Cinema. It had modernist building, with its façade decorative with a mosaic by Sławomir Lewiński and Emanuel Messer. At the time, the cinema was considered the most technologically-advanced in the Central and Eastern Europe. It operated until 2003. The building was sold in 2013, and retrofitted into a dance club and concert venue.

In 1990, following the administrative reform in the city, it was divided into the municipal neighbourhoods governed by locally elected councils, with Śródmieście-Zachód becoming one of them.

In 2003, the shopping centre Kupiec was opened at 9 and 10 Bolesława Krzywoustego Street.

In 2013, at 45 Piastów Avenue was opened the Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre of the West Pomeranian University of Technology.

Housing and public spaces

The neighbourhood consists of mid-rise housing, dominated by tenement houses, with some presence of socialist realist apartment buildings. Alongside the Polish Army Avenue are placed two circular urban squares, the Concord and Grey Ranks. Additionally, at the intersection of Piastów Avenue and Bolesława Krzywoustego Street, are also located the Tadeusz Kościuszko Square and Janina Szczerska Square.

Higher education

The southwestern portion of the neighbourhood includes part of the campus of the West Pomeranian University of Technology, including the Nanotechnology Research and Education Centre, and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, located at 45, and 50A Piastów Avenue, respectively.

Culture and entertainment

Within the neighbourhood, at 2 Polish Army Avenue, is placed the Pionier 1907 cinema, with two screening rooms. Opened in 1909, it is one of the oldest continuously-operated cinemas, and from 2005 to 2008, it was listed in the Guinness World Records. Nearby, at 8 Polish Army Avenue, is located the Kosmos Cinema, a modernist building from 1959, currently used as a dance club and a concert venue, and formerly, as a cinema. Its façade features a decorative mosaic by Sławomir Lewiński and Emanuel Messer. At 9 and 10 Bolesława Krzywoustego Street is also the shopping centre Kupiec, with a store area of 9,877 m², and a multiplex.

Government

Śródmieście-Zachód is one of the municipal neighbourhoods of Szczecin, governed by a locally elected council with 15 members. Its headquarters are located at 22 Władysława Łokietka Street.

Boundaries

The boundaries of Śródmieście-Zachód are approximately determined by Polish Army Avenue, Kopernika Street, Child Square, Narutowicza Street, and Piastów Avenue. It borders Śródmieście-Północ, Centrum, New Town, and Turzyn. It has a total area of 0.53 km².

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Srodmiescie Zachod
Neighbourhoods of Szczecin