What next for the Main Post Office building in Krakow? The unique place on the map of the city for many years reminds us of itself, being a partially undeveloped space. Will something change since the announcement of its metamorphosis?
The first presentations of the new idea by the owner of the Post Office building appeared in late 2022. The investor presented a project by the BE DDJM studio, which involves the conversion of the Post Office building into a hotel. At the same time, since the presentation of the project, the issue of redevelopment was waiting for the approval of the provincial conservationist. The development of the edifice raised a number of questions, primarily about the possibility of its adaptation.
The building has received conservation approval
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We need to be aware of what the Post Office building was. It was not a residential building, a palace or an average office - it was a model postal building and was designed as such by Ferdinand Setz of Vienna. From its inception, the building met the needs of the post office, which is why I call it a technology building. All subsequent transformations are also the result of changes in technology," Wojciech Miecznikowski, one of the main authors of the post office reconstruction project, told A&B in an interview.
a long process
The history of the post office building's reconstruction can serve as an illustration to the problem of applications piling up for many years, which, as the current Malopolska Regional Historic Preservation Officer Katarzyna Urbanska pointed out in an interview for A&B, need to be resolved. At the end of April this year, the proceedings ended favorably for the investor, who was able to smoothly proceed for permission to the Cracow magistrate, who is also undergoing a change. The process ended after almost a year and a half, which showed the speed of the previous preservationist's management. There were also doubts about the new development.
if not a hotel, then what?
The new development idea for the edifice on Planty Street raised a number of concerns among residents and activists. The phenomenon of overtourism, progressive gentrification, which is the dark side of Krakow's success, has led to a situation in which any investment aimed at tourists raises doubts. In particular, the post office building has become a venue for club events in recent years. Is this another space taken away from residents?
It is worth taking into account that the post office will continue to function on the first floor of the building, and such a large space is not necessary for the operation of the post office in the city center, as a result of changes in the functions of this institution in recent years. At the same time, the layout of the building should undergo minor metamorphoses, and as the architects pointed out, its layout directly allows adaptation for hotel services. In addition, it was necessary to adapt the building to the Local Land Use Plan, which indicates service purposes.
For the preservation of the monument, the most important thing is to create a new function
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the most important thing for a monument is function
The issue that has mostly escaped discussion in the post office is what constitutes the to be or not to be of monuments. That element is function and its adaptation. Failure to adapt it to a hotel in this case could mean the slow death of the edifice.
What I would like to emphasize in this path is the search for communication in the design process and not trying to obtain anything "by force." From the beginning, we have been looking for solutions that respect the Conservator's opinion and alignment of the Investor's intentions. During meetings with the Malopolska Regional Conservator of Monuments, it was stated that working on this project gives a chance to create a model cooperation between the designer, conservator and investor," Wojciech Miecznikowski pointed out.
The question of developing the post office building is still open due to permission from the magistrate's office, although the approximation of the start of its reconstruction should arouse different emotions from residents.
