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 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 among the most modern facilities of its kind in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. The spherical screen stands out for its exceptional acoustic qualities.

Interesting Facts

The restoration of the power plant is a success on a European scale. In October 2023, the National Centre for Film Culture opened at EC1, reviving the film tradition deeply rooted in Łódź's history. The institution is run by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in cooperation with the City of Łódź. The centre features two permanent exhibitions: "Kino Polonia", dedicated to the history of Polish cinema, and "Materia kina" ("The Matter of Cinema"), an interactive exhibition showing the stages of filmmaking, along with cinema halls hosting screenings, discussions and film events. EC1 is also home to the Centre for Comics and Interactive Narrative. A visit to EC1 is primarily about learning – the Science and Technology Centre has three educational paths, including one dedicated to space, with a virtual-reality space flight simulation. The facility focuses on learning through experiments, interactive games and quizzes, and also houses a 3D cinema.