Konserwacja Teatru im. Juliusza Słowackiego w Krakowie - problemy konstrukcyjno-budowlane

In the centre of old Cracow, at 1, Sw. Ducha sq. there is a fine building said to have a Cracovian architecture. For many years it has served to Cracovians and entire Poland. The building houses the J. Słowacki Theatre. Design work and supervision of construction have been commissioned to Jan Zawiejski, architect. The construction of the theatre started on March 26, 1891 and it was completed on October 21, 1893. "Monier" type of floors was put in that building, which was a big step forward when compared to segmental or Kleiner ones. They were made on full boarding, together with walls. They were cheaper than segmental brick ones. Steel inserts ranging from 0 8 to 12 mm at interval up to 15 cm were used; the width of the plate ranged from 6 to 12 cm. Segmental ceilings, generally used in that period, were employed also in cellars. In roofing part riveted steel open-web girders were used, finely concentrated lengthwise so that ' it all offered a complete spatial arragement. The use of steel girder systems in roofing was the only sensible solution on view of the range and cost. The use of wooden construction would be a much worse solution in both fire protection and economic terms. On the basis of a detailed inventoring the author checked calculations of constructional elements such as ceilings, rafter framing and stresses under foundations of load-bearing walls. The construction of the building works at fixed, admissible stress. The conditions for the rigidity of bent and off-centrally compressed elements are also fullfilled. Norms for the intensity of stress in a ground base under the foundation of load-bearing walls are not exceeded either. An essential technical problems is a high degree of dampness in brick walls of the theatre. For many years the artistic profession has endavoured to acquire some extra room for storing, decorations, specialistic workshops and studios. All these functions have been allocated in underground part form the side of Planty. Social facililities have been housed in a building at Szpitalna 40, which is an extension of the theatre’s axe. The basic assumption in preserved buildings is to ensure the stability of materials and constructional elements. In 1993 the theatre will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. In order to honour its artistis rank elevation work has begun on the main building of the theatre. Apart from that design work has been taken up, which envisages not only the modernization of the theatre but also the creation in it of the centre of the scenic culture in Cracow.