Palace of Culture and Sience

Although the mermaid is the symbol of Warsaw, the capital can be recognized by the main building in the city center, which is Palac Kultury i Nauki (the Palace of Culture and Since). This is the tallest building in Poland, and the 5th tallest building in Europe, it was built in 1955 as a gift for Polish people from the Soviet Union. It's a highly controversial building, and is often viewed as a reminder of Soviet influence over Poland. That’s why it had different nicknames like Stalin's syringe, even Chuj Stalina (Stalin's Dick). But the most notable nickname is PKiN, because of the abbreviation Palac Kultury i Nauki. Even though the building is impressive and has great architectural value, there was a lot of thinking and discussions about demolishing it. In the end the idea was rejected because the palace has become one of the symbols of Warsaw. The architecture of the building is similar to other skyscrapers built in the Soviet Union, but it has its own touch. Lev Rudnev, the main architect added some Polish architectural details which made the building even more amazing. The best part is that the building is projected with colorful lights in the evening, could be green on Christmas like a X-mas tree or in national flags colors to show solidarity with certain countries during specific events.