The Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow holds a significant place in the cultural landscape of Malopolska, and this place has a symbolic dimension. The former Rakowice Fields are one of the oldest European airfields, established in 1912, expanded multiple times, and operational until 1963. Today, in the historic landscape of the Aviation Cultural Park being created, Museum visitors encounter modern aviation technology, the history of aviation, and discover the aircraft gathered here. They observe the dynamic changes in the Museum’s space and the emergence of new cultural offerings.
On 18 September 2010 the grand opening of the new Main Building took place. The museum building was constructed between 2008 and 2010 and financed under the Malopolska Regional Operational Programme for 2007-2013. The value of the investment entitled “Construction of the Aviation Cultural Park, including the Main Building of the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow” amounted to PLN 45.8 million net. PLN 10.6 million net was allocated from the Malopolska Voivodeship budget, and PLN 35.2 million net from European Union funds.
The new building, a structure with a net volume of 23,250 m3, a usable area of 3,378 m2, stands over 11 metres high, with three above-ground floors and one underground floor. From a bird’s-eye view, the Main Building resembles the form of a spinning propeller. It is one of the most modern, most expressive in its form, purpose-built museum buildings in Poland.
It introduces visitors to the world of the former airfield, preparing them to visit, among others: the exhibition of aircraft from World War I, aircraft gathered in the main exhibition hangar, one of the world’s largest collections of aviation engines, the new exhibition: “Between East and West…”, and also welcomes participants of the annual Malopolska Aviation Picnics.
It is envisaged that in a few years the Main Building, as a great “Gateway to the Aviation Cultural Park”, will invite visitors to explore further indoor exhibitions of the Museum, which will be erected on the grounds of the former western group.
Ultimately, from 2014 the Main Building will enable the Museum to receive an additional 44,000 visitors per year, which will bring attendance above the level of 120,000 visitors per year.
This modern building, on a European scale in terms of architecture and technology, began its operations in the jubilee year of the 100th anniversary of aviation in Krakow and Malopolska. The Main Building is an opportunity for the Museum’s development and for creating an attractive cultural heritage product for metropolitan Krakow and Malopolska.
“BUDOSTAL-2 S.A.” from Krakow
Contract value: PLN 42.5 million
Contract engineer:
Probadex-Krakow – PLN 0.5 million
Designer:
Pyssal, Ruge Architekten and Bartlomiej Kisielewski – PLN 0.9 million
Investor:
Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow
Investment initiator and main supporting entity:
Malopolska Voivodeship
Purchase by the Malopolska Voivodeship of a plot of 3.6 hectares from the Military Property Agency in December 2009 for PLN 2.49 million, designated for the development of the Aviation Cultural Park.
Investment value: PLN 45.8 million (according to MRPO 2007-2013 agreement)
Timeline:
Building parameters:
Functions: museum, educational, scientific, office
