CDT 'Smyk' Department Store, Modernist department store in Śródmieście district, Warsaw, Poland.
CDT 'Smyk' is a five-story modernist building with rounded corners, continuous horizontal window bands, and a distinctive glazed facade facing Aleje Jerozolimskie street. The structure displays clear modernist design principles through its flowing lines and emphasis on horizontal elements that define its appearance.
Architects Zbigniew Ihnatowicz and Jerzy Romański designed the building between 1947 and 1948, when its modernist approach faced criticism during the socialist era. After opening, it became a central shopping destination for Warsaw families seeking children's products.
The name 'Smyk' means 'small child' in Polish, reflecting the store's original focus on children's goods for Warsaw families. Today, the building continues to function as an important retail hub in the city's commercial landscape.
The building is located at Krucza 50 and underwent significant renovation in 2018, transforming into a mixed-use complex with offices and retail space. When visiting, note that the lower levels retain retail functions while upper floors now serve as office areas.
The building housed Poland's first underground parking garage and incorporated sun protection devices that had never been used in Polish architecture before. These innovations demonstrate how the project anticipated technical standards ahead of its time.
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