On September 8, 2023, the Ustroń pyramids were entered in the register of immovable monuments of the Silesian province. This is another valuable example of modernist architecture that will be placed under statutory protection.
The Silesian Provincial Conservator of Monuments decided to enter the Ustroń-Zawodzie sanatorium and spa development complex in the register, including 21 buildings located in the designated area. The project by Aleksander Franta, Henryk Buszko and Tadeusz Szewczyk began to be built back in the 1960s. The justification for the proposal reads:
The therapeutic and rehabilitation district of Ustroń-Zawodzie (Cieszyn county, Silesian voivodeship), built in 1968-1988 (architects: Henryk Buszko, Aleksander Franta, Tadeusz Szewczyk) as a recreational facility for the residents of the Upper Silesian Industrial District, is an iconic example of holiday social-modernist architecture. It should be pointed out that the value of the entire establishment was created using the advantages of its picturesque location, in a place that is a tourist attraction of the region, on the eastern side of the Vistula River, in the Zawodzie district, located at the foot of the Równica and Polanica mountains, in the vicinity of the railroad station starting the marked tourist trails in the south-west direction.west to Czantoria Wielka and Stożek, west to Równica and southeast to Magurka and Barania Góra. The route is widely regarded as extremely charming due to the scenic beauty of the beech-forested slopes. Since 1959, the area has been included in the Beskid spa and resort belt Ustroń-Wisła-Szczyrk and began its architectural development.
attachment to the entry with a map including protected areas
© Provincial Office for Monument Protection in Katowice
As the conservator points out, some of the historic buildings require repair and conservation work - nevertheless, most of the buildings have retained their character, shaped by Silesian architects.
Pyramids and its creators a few years ago became the heroes of a documentary film directed by Ewa Trzcionka, "Uzdrowisko. Architecture of Zwodzia" - the film featured one of the designers, Alexander Franta. Speaking about the uniqueness of the architecture on the recording were Przemo Lukasik and Robert Konieczny, among others. The film is available in its entirety on the Youtube platform.
spa expansion continues
In September 2022, plans to develop the resort were officially unveiled. A private company, the American Heart of Poland Group, has decided to entrust the design of further parts of the complex to two Silesian architects - the grandson of one of the spa's creators, MaciejFranta (Franta Group) and Robert Konieczny(KWK Promes). Ola Kloc wrote about the expansion projects in the pages of A&B. The architects refer in their design to the solutions proposed by the designers of the historic establishment.
Maciej Franta and Robert Konieczny presented a project for the expansion of the spa in Ustroń Zawodzie
© American Heart of Poland Group
