In 2018, the tenements on Kosciuszko Street in Gliwice were planned to be demolished. However, there appeared an investor and a team of architects who decided to breathe new life into the historic tenement. And so the concept was created to restore the buildings' splendor, so that they would once again become the pearl of the city's landscape.
Enjoy an inspiring read about a revitalization project that combined modern residential functionality with preserving the original appearance of a stylish townhouse. And now let's turn back the hands of the history clock and move for a moment to the picturesque 1920s....
Three visionaries with one dream
The original project was the result of the cooperation of three prominent people who made golden records in the history of Gliwice and Silesia. We are talking about building counselor Karl Schabik, architect Hans von Poellnitz and industrialist Count Nikolai von Ballestrem. It is their passion, and the pursuit of the seemingly unattainable, that could inspire many movie scripts. One of them would certainly tell the story of the design of a complex of townhouses referring in style to the Berlin and Parisian gems of urban architecture of the first quarter of the 20th century. The final scene would have taken place in 1922, and would have been crowned by a camera raid on a set of sophisticated buildings that captivated as much as the architecture of representative townhouses in the German or French capital.
We would also add that the work of Karl Schabik, Hans von Poellnitz and Count Nicholas von Ballestrem gave Gliwice a European flair for many years, becoming one of the most recognizable landmarks on the city map. It is worth mentioning that the unfortunate fate of the Old Continent and the turmoil of war did not take with it the tenement, which has survived to the present day. Unfortunately, as the years passed, its condition began to deviate significantly from its original splendor.
visualization: Finm
The concept of preserving identity
After considering a number of options, the investor, i.e. the MW Invest consortium and PANOVA Studio architects, set a specific goal, namely to recreate the original appearance of the tenement in a modern look. The ambitious challenge was to preserve the historical-architectural identity of the 1920s-style buildings while implementing all the amenities of modern construction. This direction, moreover, was to restore the street to its former glory and once again make the building one of the most beautiful spots on the map of Gliwice. In other words, the residents of the revitalized tenement will be able to live in a delightful building from the early 20th century and enjoy functional solutions and all the conveniences of modern housing, all in the heart of the city.
Point cloud and virtual model of the building
The concept for the revitalization of the townhouses required not only consultation with the Provincial Historic Preservation Officer, but also the performance of many expert studies needed at a further design stage. In order to create a design that faithfully reflects the building's existing condition, the architects performed laser scanning and used a point cloud for a comprehensive inventory. Its detail is incomparably better and more accurate than that performed traditionally.
As a result, a virtual model of the building, as well as of each room, was created, which precisely reproduces the smallest details. Thus, architects gained a tool for verifying design solutions in real time. In short, the possibility of ongoing optimization of technical solutions inside the townhouses themselves was created. You can see this with your own eyes, as PANOVA Studio created a 3D mock-up, which allows you to admire the future effect of comprehensive revitalization in miniature.
visualization: Finm
Modern functionalism + revitalization
According to the general concept of revitalization, the idea was to implement the functionality of modern residential-commercial construction with minimal interference in the existing urban tissue. The facade was decided to be reconstructed in accordance with the original shape of the architectural elements and preservation of the color scheme.
The investor and architects decided on several significant changes, which were incorporated in such a way as not to interfere with the original style of the entire building. The first modification was to adapt the ground-floor premises for commercial use, so that in the future medical offices, law offices or catering establishments can be built here. An undoubted advantage of this solution will also be the activation of the street by giving it a business and service character. In short, entrepreneurs and professionals will gain a prestigious location and representative premises or offices in one of the most stylish buildings in Gliwice. City residents, on the other hand, will be able to feast their eyes on the beautiful façade of the building, which will regain its original character and residential function.
The second and at the same time the most visible change in architectural terms was the creation of a connector in the form of a three-story connection of tenements with service and residential functions. Thus, the connector united the two tenements in an impressive way. In the place where the gate was originally located, a characteristic element appeared, which not only enriched the project, but also became a kind of dominant incorporated into the line of the quarter's frontage.
The third modification was the adaptation of an unused attic into comfortable apartments with a beautiful view. From the south, future residents will look at the tectonics of the rooftops of downtown Gliwice interspersed with green areas, while from the north they will see the old town with the famous Gliwice radio station in the background.
It is also worth mentioning a part of the inner courtyard created with the future residents of the tenements in mind, which blossoms with greenery supplemented with elements of small architecture, thus becoming a charming and stylish retreat.
The effect of the revitalization work will be seen soon, as the revitalization of the tenements at 44-46 Kosciuszko Street is likely to be completed in the first half of 2023. Their renewed face for decades to come will be a pearl of the urban landscape and proof that the second life of a building can be as beautiful as the first.
