THE USE OF A NATURAL RESOURCE IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY OF CRACOW

The paper presents an interesting decorative flooring solution from 1973 on the ground and first floors of the main building of the Pedagogical University of Cracow, named after the Commission of National Education. This flooring is composed of irregular, variably coloured natural stone slabs: the so-called Holy Cross Mountains „marbles”. They represent several rock types from limestone quarries near Chęciny, including mainly Bolechowice, but also Szewce, Łabędziów and Jaźwica. These rocks are traditionally called marbles. However, in fact, petrographically, they are not metamorphic rocks, but strongly lithified and massive, partially crystallized limestones with numerous fossils. They are of Paleozoic age: Middle and Upper Devonian. The type of flooring composed of irregular panels of different sizes and colours is currently rarely used in interior design despite giving an aesthetically pleasing mosaic effect with an interesting pattern. The flooring made of assorted Holy Cross Mountains “marbles” can have a great educational value and great geotouristic significance. Selected and described rocks of different lithological types can be used to create a geotouristic educational path that will be helpful in teaching of subjects related to Earth sciences (e.g. geology, paleontology, rock materials).