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We already know the results of the nation-wide poll for the worst and the best architecture of the past year. Representatives of Krakow were recognised in both categories.
Over 9,000 votes were cast in either category. Emotions ran high and the forum overflowed with opinions - this is how the organisers of the "Bryła i Makabryła 2008" (Shape and Misshape) poll for the best and worst architecture of the past year summarised the vote. As they add, just two hours before the poll closed in the Bryła Roku (Shape of the Year) category, the housing estate of detached houses from Krakow was in the pole position. Zaułek Onyx (design: Jacek Michalski, Krzysztof Dymek and nsMoonStudio) built in the Wola Justowska district by the Buma developers quickly gained the favour of many poll participants.
"For courage in style and materials as well as modernity. Few people know that those buildings were erected on the lot in just a few days!" - wrote one web surfer who cast his vote for them. "The Onyx estate of Krakow is the newest trend in architecture, good job!" - another one wrote. However, not everyone shared this view. "I don't like those houses. Neither do I like the 'sculpture in concrete'" - one of the opponents added. It was probably the extreme emotions elicited by the Buma design that made it lose almost on the last straight to Muzeum Wsi Opolskiej (Opole Countryside Museum) and finally take the second place.
The vote for the Makabryła (Misshape) was much less tense as the results were more foreseeable. From the very beginning, the monumental new head office of the Polish State Television in Warsaw designed by Czesław Bielecki held the lead. Due to its shape, this building was called the Warsaw Tower of Babel already at its design stage.
"The only real competitor for this huge, twisted shape was the Koszalin's Galeria Hosso, a contemporary shopping centre with the style of historic tenements" - the organisers revealed. "There is no doubt that photographs cannot convey the entire tragedy of the opera house of Krakow. The additional handicap of this building is that it was created as a space for art, but look how it came out ... This is why I encourage you to vote for this building. I am keen on it as a Krakow resident - I would like to mete at least this punishment out to the people responsible" - an opponent of this building appealed. "Krakow has been defaced again. The new member of the club of monstrosities is the Krakow Opera House designed by Romuald Loegler. I envy the Norwegians for their Oslo opera house" - another web surfer wrote. Finally, the "Phantom Opera" of Krakow took the third place, Galeria Hosso of Koszalin the second. The new head office of the Polish State Television was pronounced the worst edifice of the year.
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