Saska Kepa
Encyclopedia
Saska Kępa (ˈsaska ˈkɛmpa) is a neighbourhood in Warsaw, Poland
, currently part of Praga Południe district. It is a seat of Park Skaryszewski
However, until the early 20th century the area retained its rural character. The area officially became a part of Warsaw in 1916. It soon became one of fastest-growing areas of Warsaw and Saska Kępa became its centre. In 1920's and 1930's it became one of the most popular villa
areas of the Warsaw's middle class
.
During and after World War II
the borough was not destroyed. Despite several plans, it was not industrialised either, which allowed the district to retain much of its original, quiet and peaceful character. It has historically housed many embassies and consulates of foreign nations, nestled among streets named "French", "Parisian", "London", "Mexican", "Dutch", "Angolan", "Brazilian", "Estonian", "Finish", "Czech", "Angoran", "Indian", Brusselian", "International", and others named after continents, nations, and prominent cities.
The "front door" to the district is George Washington Roundabout (Rondo Waszyngtona), which links the district to Warszawa-Śródmieście via road, tram, and bus. On the other side of the roundabout is the site of where the 10th Anniversary Stadium once stood. The site is currently undergoing redevelopment to become the Polish National Stadium
.
Currently there are several new areas with luxurious blocks of flats complexes in the area, but the authorities do not plan to construct more houses and want the character to be preserved. Many of the older homes have been repainted and remodeled in the late '90's and early '00's to resemble the pre-WWII character of the district.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, currently part of Praga Południe district. It is a seat of Park Skaryszewski
History
In the 17th century one of areas of present Praga Południe was turned into a military camp. In the 18th century part of the area was named Saska Kępa (literally Saxon Rise) after the Saxon Guards of the Kings of Poland stationed there.However, until the early 20th century the area retained its rural character. The area officially became a part of Warsaw in 1916. It soon became one of fastest-growing areas of Warsaw and Saska Kępa became its centre. In 1920's and 1930's it became one of the most popular villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
areas of the Warsaw's middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
.
During and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the borough was not destroyed. Despite several plans, it was not industrialised either, which allowed the district to retain much of its original, quiet and peaceful character. It has historically housed many embassies and consulates of foreign nations, nestled among streets named "French", "Parisian", "London", "Mexican", "Dutch", "Angolan", "Brazilian", "Estonian", "Finish", "Czech", "Angoran", "Indian", Brusselian", "International", and others named after continents, nations, and prominent cities.
Currently
French Street (Francuska) is the main commercial street, lined with shops and restaurants. There are plans to close off the street to most traffic and enhance the pedestrian atmosphere.The "front door" to the district is George Washington Roundabout (Rondo Waszyngtona), which links the district to Warszawa-Śródmieście via road, tram, and bus. On the other side of the roundabout is the site of where the 10th Anniversary Stadium once stood. The site is currently undergoing redevelopment to become the Polish National Stadium
National Stadium (Warsaw)
The National Stadium football stadium under construction in Warsaw, Poland, on the site of the former stadium Stadion Dziesięciolecia.The new stadium will have a seating capacity of 58,145. Its construction started in 2008 and is to finish in November 2011...
.
Currently there are several new areas with luxurious blocks of flats complexes in the area, but the authorities do not plan to construct more houses and want the character to be preserved. Many of the older homes have been repainted and remodeled in the late '90's and early '00's to resemble the pre-WWII character of the district.
Famous people
- Tadeusz BairdTadeusz BairdTadeusz Baird was a Polish composer.He was born in Grodzisk Mazowiecki, to Scottish immigrant parents. He studied composition, piano and musicology in Warsaw with, among others, Kazimierz Sikorski. In 1956, with Serocki, he founded the Warsaw Autumn international contemporary music festival...
- composer - Miron Białoszewski - poetPoetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, novelist, playwrightPlaywrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity... - Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz - PolishPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
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ian general, veteran of World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
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- Katarzyna FiguraKatarzyna FiguraKatarzyna Figura is a Polish actress. She is sometimes billed as "Kasia Figura", as in Prêt-à-Porter , Robert Altman's 1994 film.- Career :...
- actress - Józef Gosławski - sculptor and medallic artist
- Helena Gruszecka - actress of stage, radio and film
- Konrad GuderskiKonrad GuderskiKonrad Guderski was a Polish engineer and military officer. He was the organizer and commander of the defense of the Polish Post Office in Danzig in the first hours of the German invasion of Poland, 1939. He was killed during the Defense of the Polish Post Office in Danzig, during the World War II...
- the organizer and commander of the defense of the Polish Post Office in DanzigDefense of the Polish Post Office in DanzigThe Defense of the Polish Post Office in Danzig was one of the first acts of World War II in Europe, as part of the Invasion of Poland.... - Tadeusz KutrzebaTadeusz KutrzebaTadeusz Kutrzeba was an army general of the Second Polish Republic.Kutrzeba was born in Kraków, then part of Austria-Hungary...
- generalGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
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- Waldemar Łysiak - writer, art historian and journalist
- Agnieszka OsieckaAgnieszka OsieckaAgnieszka Osiecka She was a poet, writer, author of theatre and television screenplays, film director and journalist...
- poet and songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer... - Jan ParandowskiJan ParandowskiJan Parandowski was a Polish writer, essayist, and translator. Best known for his works relating to classical antiquity, he was also the president of the Polish PEN Club between 1933 and 1978, with a break during World War II.He was born in Lwów, Austria-Hungary and died in Warsaw.-Biography:Jan...
- writer, essayist, and translator - Jan RokitaJan RokitaJan Rokita is a Polish conservative politician, a member of the Sejm, the lower chamber of the Polish parliament. He was chairman of the parliamentary club of Platforma Obywatelska from 2003 to 2005....
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politician, a member of SejmSejmThe Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
, the lower chamber of the Polish parliament, and chairman of the parliamentary club of Platforma Obywatelska (Citizens' Platform) - Krzysztof SkowrońskiKrzysztof SkowronskiKrzysztof Skowroński is a Polish journalist and the director of Program 3 in Polish Radio.-External links:*...
- journalist and the director of Program 3 in Polish RadioPolskie RadioPolskie Radio Spółka Akcyjna is Poland's national publicly funded radio broadcasting organization.- History :Polskie Radio was founded on 18 August 1925 and began making regular broadcasts from Warsaw on 18 April 1926.... - Stanisław Sojka - jazz and pop singer/songwriter
- Stefan WiecheckiStefan WiecheckiStefan Wiechecki was a Polish writer and journalist. He is most fondly remembered for his humorous feuilletons, which chronicled the everyday life of Warsaw and cultivated the Warsaw dialect....
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