A few words about history, or how EC1 came to be

EC1 is Łódź's first commercial power plant, which was erected in 1906 on Targowa street. The decision to begin work was made after the Siemens&Halske company obtained a concession in 1900. The construction process was turbulent, interrupted several times by strikes. Finally, on September 18, 1907, the first electric current flowed from here. This section today forms EC1 Wschód (EC1 East). The expansion of the complex was halted by World War II. In 1928, a decision was made to purchase a machinery factory and foundry from Otto Goldammer, and a new power station was built, which today constitutes the western part of EC1. In 1930, a Brown Boveri turbine unit was launched. During World War II, one of the turbine units was destroyed as a result of a fire. In 1953, the power plant began producing steam for Łódź's industry. In 1960, the current name EC1 was used for the first time. The power plant supplied heat uninterrupted until 2001. After this period, a decision was made to revitalize the building so it could serve new functions.
In 2008, the authorities of the city of Łódź issued an official announcement about plans to restore the combined heat and power plant and create a new institution "EC1 Łódź - city of culture". The total value of the project is estimated at 265 million złoty, with a significant portion of funds coming from European funds. The official opening of the EC1 Science and Technology Centre took place on January 7, 2018.

EC1
EC1

Architecture

The revitalization process took into account reproducing the building's original appearance – its form, the density of spaces, and its volume. Inside the facility, we find originally preserved machines that once functioned in the combined heat and power plant alongside modern equipment. The total area of EC1 is 18 thousand square meters. The space contains historical surfaces such as: the machine hall, pump room, switchroom, boiler room, water softening room, and cooling room. Worth noting is the original Art Nouveau style in which the machine hall has been preserved. The design of the renovated power plant is astonishing. It's no wonder that the EC1 Wschód complex was recognized in 2013 as Poland's most architecturally interesting building, as evidenced by the prestigious award, Bryła Roku (Building of the Year). The planetarium that is part of EC1 Wschód is the most modern facility of its kind not only in Poland, but also in Central and Eastern Europe. The spherical screen stands out for its exceptional acoustic qualities.

Interesting Facts

The restoration of the power plant is undoubtedly a success on a European scale. Despite this, EC1 is not resting on its laurels and is currently constructing the National Film Centre, whose opening is planned for 2019. It is to be a revival of the film tradition so deeply rooted in Łódź's history. The project is overseen by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in cooperation with the City of Łódź. The concept provides for the creation of three cinema halls with 260 seats, discussion panels, special screenings, and film presentations. The idea also provides for creating a Comics and Interactive Narrative Centre. A visit to EC1 is primarily intended to provide knowledge. For this purpose, three educational paths were created. One of them allows you to learn facts about the cosmos. EC1 also offers a simulation based on virtual reality technology, thanks to which we can provide a space flight. The facility primarily focuses on learning through experiments, interactive games, and quizzes. EC1 also houses a 3D cinema, which is part of one of the educational paths. Currently at EC1, you can also see a unique exhibition dedicated to the genius of Leonardo da Vinci.