Koszutka

Koszutka is a part and a district of Katowice, located in the northern part of the city, in the Chorzów Hills, bordering Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, Bogucice, Śródmieście, and Dąb. It is the smallest in terms of area and one of the most densely populated districts of the city, with a large proportion of elderly residents. It is mainly residential, with a well-developed service sector, and is also the seat of several public administration institutions. Koszutka began to develop in the 17th century as a colony of Bogucice. Its growth in the 19th century was limited due to mine subsidence caused by underground fires in coal seams. Koszutka underwent major transformation during the Polish People's Republic era, when the construction of Osiedle Juliana Marchlewskiego (renamed Osiedle Koszutka in 1990) began in the 1950s. As part of post-war expansion, many residential and public buildings were constructed, the oldest of which are in the socialist realist style. The most characteristic buildings in Koszutka include the Kosmos Cinema near Grunwaldzki Square, the building of the Coal Industry Studies and Design Office, Galeriowiec, Górnik I and Podkowa residential buildings, the Spodek arena, and the now-demolished Polish State Railways Regional Directorate building, which has been replaced by the.KTW office complex.