Mrówkowiec in Wrocław is one of the most distinctive examples of post-war modernism in Poland. This massive residential block at Drukarska Street 31–47 has drawn attention for over half a century with its impressive scale and form – it’s the longest apartment building in the city, often called “Wrocław’s Superunit.”
At a glance
- 📍 Location: Drukarska 31–47, Wrocław (Krzyki district)
- 📏 Length: 235 metres – the longest residential building in the city
- 🏢 Floors: 11 storeys and 9 staircases
- 🏠 Apartments: 801 flats housing around 2,500 residents
- 📅 Construction: 1965 – 1967, design by Eng. Leszek Zdek
- 🏗️ Style: Brutalism / Social modernism, so-called “Superunit”
History and concept
In the 1960s, Poland launched an ambitious “housing for everyone” programme. It was in this spirit that Wrocław’s Mrówkowiec was built – a project combining modernity, functionality and maximum density of urban housing.
The author was Eng. Leszek Zdek. Construction began in 1965 on the site of pre-war villa districts destroyed during World War II. By 1967, the first residents moved in, and the building became a symbol of Wrocław’s post-war growth – one of the largest residential complexes in the region.
Architecture and style – Wrocław’s “Superunit”
Mrówkowiec is an excellent example of Brutalism and Social modernism – a raw, geometric style typical of the 1960s. Its façade is composed of repetitive window and balcony modules, forming a 235-metre structure about 15 metres wide.
Inside there are 801 apartments of various sizes – from studio flats to family units. Shops and service points were located on the ground floor. When the building was first completed, its roof featured a sunbathing terrace – a mini “beach” for residents – later closed after an accident.
Life inside Mrówkowiec
Today, around 2,500 people live in Mrówkowiec – virtually a small town of its own. The residents’ community is active, and locals affectionately call their block “a city under one roof.” Laundry hangs on balconies, conversations echo through corridors – daily life here still reflects a piece of the PRL era preserved in time.
For photographers and modernist architecture enthusiasts, it’s one of Wrocław’s most fascinating structures. Its monumental shape and rhythmic rows of windows recall the ideas of Le Corbusier – with a distinct Silesian flair.
Mrówkowiec today
More than half a century later, the building still serves its original purpose and remains the longest residential block in Wrocław. It’s a living monument to the urban planning of the 1960s – a reminder of the era when cities were built around the ideal of a “great community.”
It’s well worth seeing in person – especially if you’re interested in modernist architecture or the story of post-war Wrocław’s development.
How to get there
Mrówkowiec is located at Drukarska 31–47 in the Krzyki district. From the city centre you can reach it by trams no. 2, 6 or 7 (get off at the Gajowicka / Kamienna stop) or by buses 125, 134 and 144. From the stop it’s about a five-minute walk to the building.
Practical information
- Address: Drukarska 31–47, Wrocław (Krzyki)
- Architect: Eng. Leszek Zdek
- Construction years: 1965–1967
- Apartments: 801
- Residents: approx. 2,500
- Length: 235 m
- Style: Brutalism / Social modernism
- Fun fact: in the 1960s the roof featured a sunbathing terrace for residents
