Elektrownia Powiśle boasts a vibrant atmosphere, thanks to its range of trendy shops and its cosmopolitan food hall. But throughout the 20th century, the mall was alive with a very different kind of energy, as it was a powerplant generating electricity for the majority of the city.
The spot maintains clear links to its history through its architecture and decorations. Visitors can enjoy a bite to eat while sitting under authentic factory fittings, while the corridors are lined with unusual artworks crafted from salvaged machinery. The exterior of the factory is a blend of red brick and gleaming glass, featuring a reconstructed chimney.
But the history of this site isn’t just industrial. During WWII, workers at the plant were active in resistance activities against the occupying Nazi forces. The factory management used their position to help Poles living under Nazi rule, offering them work or sheltering them from roundups.
Later, Polish resistance fighters took control of the plant before the Warsaw Uprising. Engineers from the plant even helped to construct an armored vehicle known as “Kubuś” using an old truck chassis and other materials found in the factory. These heroic actions are documented on information boards around the premises.