On the western, now non-existent, frontage of Katowice’s Market Square was once a low-rise building housing Borinski’s colonial store and, in later times, delicatessen. On the roof of the building, a neon advertisement for the Chorzów Zoo flicked invitingly: “VISIT THE ZOO.” We can clearly recognise the shape of a monkey, elephant, giraffe, camel and kangaroo. Next to it, on a corner part of the roof, there was a neon sign advertising the Social Fund for the Reconstruction of the Capital (SFOS for Społeczny Fundusz Odbudowy Stolicy in Polish), in which a Warsaw mermaid with a trowel in her hand called for a collection: “SFOS – this is your contribution to rebuilding the capital.”

Between 1972 and 1974, the “Skarbek” Cooperative Department Store was erected on the site of the historic buildings, designed by the architect Jurand Jarecki. Over time, the building has become one of the many icons of Katowice’s architecture. Both thanks to the building’s modern-for-the-time shape and the special façade covered with embossed aluminium sheeting, imported especially for “Skarbek” from France.