Iluzjon

Cinema

@. Narbutta

architect. Mieczysław Piprek

finished. 1950

When first built this movie theater was known as "Kino Stolica". Its site was the old Mokotow market. The building was designed as a 'garden pavillion'set into a green, neighborhood park. The greenery and openness was meant to dominate the city fabric here. The movie theater is sunk into the park by three steps. The pantheon-like entrance hall was fashionable at the time, cupolas were 'In'. I'm not sure if the site strategy worked. The building is pretty massive despite the sort of organic wavy roof. Overall the place has a nice feel to it though and the immediate neighborhood is very charming. After a renovation the building will be the site of the national filmoteka which is temporarily housed in the National Library down the street on Niepodleglosci.