Okrąglak (The Rotunda)

Okrąglak, sometimes called The Rotunda, is a cylindrical nine-storey building on Mielżyńskiego Street in central Poznań and one of the most admired works of Polish modernist architecture. Designed by architect Marek Leykam and built between 1948 and 1954, it draws visitors who want to see its glazed drum-shaped facade and the vertical fins that give the exterior its rhythm. It is worth a short detour on any walk through the city centre, even though the building now works as offices rather than a shop.

The most striking feature is the round, fully glazed facade, split into narrow bays by upright fins that people have long compared to razor blades. These vertical elements catch the light differently as you circle the building, so the exterior reads as a set of thin stripes rather than a flat wall. At the top sits a rooftop observation deck arranged around a central skylight, part of Leykam's original design. From the pavement you can take in the full cylinder in a few minutes, and the corner setting on Mielżyńskiego Street gives you room to step back for a photograph.

Okrąglak opened on 29 January 1955 as a Universal Department Store, and for decades it was one of the main places to shop in Poznań. It was the first building in the city assembled from prefabricated components, which made it a technical landmark as well as an architectural one. A thorough renovation in 2011 and 2012 restored the original appearance and turned the interior into an office building. That work is a large part of why the structure is still counted among the finest examples of modernism in Poland.

The site rewards anyone with an interest in twentieth-century architecture, design history or urban photography. Because Okrąglak is now an office building, the interior is not a public attraction, so plan on appreciating it from the outside rather than expecting a tour or shop floor. There is no ticket to see the facade, and the round form is easy to read from street level. If you want confirmation of any access to the rooftop deck or lobby, check official channels before you visit, since arrangements can change.

Mielżyńskiego Street sits within the central district, so Okrąglak pairs naturally with a wider walk around Poznań rather than a trip on its own. You can fold a quick look at the building into a route that also takes in the Old Market Square and other city-centre sights covered in our Poznań guide. Ten minutes is enough to circle the exterior and note how it differs from the older architecture nearby, then carry on with the rest of your day.