Architektura wybranych ośrodków wczasowych Pojezierza Mazurskiego w latach 1945–1980

Abstract

The architecture of selected holiday centres of Masurian Lakeland in the years 1945–1980

From the 16th century until the end of World War II, most of the Masurian Lakeland was situated within the borders of Prussia. It is a region of exceptional touristic attractiveness, with well-connected navigable lakes, undulating landscape and large, undeveloped areas of forests and meadows. The government of post-war Poland promptly tapped into this potential and, from the early 1950s, commenced the creation of a network of holiday centres for government, military, ruling party officials and their families etc. Additionally, architecturally interesting buildings serving as employee holiday centres were erected there by institutions based in the capital and companies possessing vast investment capital. The investor’s rank was frequently reflected in high quality architecture, the use of expensive and hard to procure building materials and technologies and, finally, attentiveness to the comfort and satisfaction of their demanding guests. This article presents three high standard holiday centres representative of the period of the Polish People’s Republic — the holiday centre of the Office of the Council of Ministers in Łańsk near Olsztyn, the holiday centre of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers’ Party in Mierki near Olsztynek and the holiday centre of the Trade Union Board of Book, Press and Radio Workers located near Gołdap.