The Market Hall building on Daszyńskiego Avenue is one of the many surviving examples of interwar period architecture in Krakow. Since the beginning of its existence, it has maintained a commercial function until today - today its walls house a store, and the square around the hall is home to one of the most bustling and interesting marketplaces in Krakow. Early last year, news broke online that a new attraction - a nightclub - would be located under the roof of the modernist hall.
The possibility of a new party house in the Market Hall was brought to the attention of the media and city councilors by local residents, who drew attention to the ongoing renovations in the building. The nightclub, owned by the owners of several similar establishments in Krakow, would be built on the floor of the hall, in the spaces of a currently unused cold storage room. However, out of concern for the peace and quiet of the local community and due to the historic nature of the place, an avalanche of processes was set in motion, which eventually led to the initiation of proceedings to enter the Market Hall in the register of historical monuments. The positive, though not final, decision on the listing was made public on July 5 of this year.
I had a meeting today with the provincial conservator of historical monuments, who informed me of the initiation of proceedings to enter the hall building in the register of historical monuments, due to its special character. At the same time, the conservator requested the Podwawelska Spółdzielnia Spożywców "Społem" to stop renovation work. This will help to address the threats and concerns of residents, resulting from the planned use of the building for an entertainment center and nightclub. I believe that in this symbolic way we will proceed with the realization of the plan to revitalize the entire surroundings of the hall, Grzegórzecka and Wesoła Streets, making this place another living room of Krakow," he wrote on his profile on X in March this year. Andrzej Kulig, the then I. Deputy Mayor of the City of Krakow.
Register entry - an opportunity or a nail in the coffin
However, in the context of the blocking of an entertainment investment by an entry in the registry, there are voices of criticism. Some of those commenting on the matter are not convinced of the historic value of the modernist hall, and there are also opinions that the recent actions of the Krakow magistrate and WUOZ are part of a broader trend of turning Krakow into an "open-air museum". These statements are not completely unfounded - a significant part of the Market Hall has remained empty for years, and the inclusion of the building in the register of historical monuments will definitely hinder any steps aimed at developing the unused space. What is needed for the Market Hall, therefore, is a plan that will make use of its potential and attractive location, while preserving the value of the market microcosm that has grown up around the building over the years. The hasty issuance of a listing decision without concrete plans for the revitalization of the Hall's surroundings could be considered a hasty action, hindering the development of the immediate area. There has been plenty of time to develop a concept, but specifics are still lacking.
The surroundings of the Market Hall are bursting at the seams on Sundays
Photo: Mamik © CC BY-SA 3.0 | Wikimedia Commons | Fotopolska.eu
fair puzzle
Residents of Krakow, however, associate the Market Hall above all not so much with the modernist building, but rather with the marketplace around it. The UNITARG square around the hall is certainly a disorderly place with questionable aesthetics. Nevertheless, it has been drawing crowds for years, offering fresh food during the week and on Saturdays, while on Sundays it is an antique market, considered by many Krakowians to be the best in the entire city. The square around the Market Hall is now a vital piece of the social puzzle of Grzegórzki, and it's hard to imagine that the place would function any other way, or worse, cease to exist. Any effort to revitalize the area should therefore be undertaken with extreme caution, respecting the interests of all parties involved in the square.
the różyckicasus
The plaza at the Market Hall is a place that develops organically - interference in this process is not necessarily successful. Bazar Różycki in Warsaw is a case in point. Before 2020, the once vibrant bazaar was said to be "scary" or "looks like it's after the apocalypse." - This was mainly about the market's run-down infrastructure, which consisted mainly of shabby wooden booths. Due to the poor condition of the bazaar, the City attempted to revitalize the site. The booths were demolished and replaced with modern shopping pavilions for several million zlotys. Unfortunately, the cost of renting the new booths, which the City presented to potential vendors, turned out to be too high, and the once vibrant square eventually died. As the City Is Ours portal reports, it is only recently that new exhibitors have begun to appear on the site again. However, you don't have to look for similar examples all the way to Warsaw - as some time ago we wrote on the portal about the not-so-successful booths that were used by florists offering their services at the Cracow market.
Bazar Różyckiego in Warsaw
Photo: Adrian Grycuk | Wikimedia Commons © CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
It is to be hoped that a similar story does not await the square at Hala Targowa in Cracow, and any actions leading to the revitalization of this place will be carried out as carefully as possible, which will not disturb its organic character. On the other hand, let the entry in the register of monuments be a contribution to the discussion on the future of the modernist hall and the beginning of the road to revitalizing the plot located in the densely built-up city center, where every square meter of space is at a premium.
