Another Gdańsk tenement house has been restored to its former glory. This time, the focus was on an eclectic building from the mid-19th century, located at 14 Łąkowa Street. The property has been given a new lease of life thanks to work carried out by Gdańskie Nieruchomości, all under the watchful eye of the conservation officer. The total cost of the project was PLN 2,811,919.46 gross.
14 Łąkowa Street in Gdańsk
This three-storey, narrow tenement house is one of the relatively few buildings in Dolne Miasto to have survived the turmoil of the war. Its structure has retained the historic, frontage-based layout of Łąkowa Street. The façade, with its symmetrical, three-axis composition, has survived in fairly good condition, despite numerous alterations over the years. During the renovation, it transpired that the outbuilding directly adjacent to the tenement house was in a much worse state of repair than had been anticipated. For this reason, following approval from the conservation officer, it was demolished. Previously, the plan had been to shore it up and preserve it.
The restored façade of the Gdańsk monument
The most visible changes resulted from the work on the façade. As part of the renovation, the clarity of all the decorations, which had been simplified or damaged over the years, was restored. The pilasters with composite capitals, the moulded cornices and the friezes decorated with acanthus motifs and angelic heads have regained their former distinctiveness. In addition, missing ornaments, removed after the war, have been replaced. The colours of the façade required development based on conservation research and analysis, as there was a lack of clear data in the sources. Ultimately, the selected colour palette has restored the façade’s elegant appearance, in keeping with the style of the era. New window and door joinery has also been installed in the building. Its design references the historical divisions and proportions.
Tenement interiors steeped in history
The scope of works included a complete refurbishment of the interiors, ranging from the demolition of stoves, partition walls, ceilings and installations, to the construction of new structural and finishing elements, including the roof and internal insulation. Much attention was paid to the stairwell, where 19th-century wooden stairs, along with the balustrade and carpentry details, have survived. These were restored, as were the doors and other elements of the historic fittings. The building was fitted with new services, including central heating with a central heating unit, water and drainage systems, ventilation, electrical and telecommunications installations, smoke detectors and a Building Management System (BMS). Following completion of the works, the tenement house comprises three flats, a commercial unit on the ground floor and storage rooms in the attic.
Łąkowa 14 tenement house – another successful renovation
The renovation at Łąkowa 14 is another piece of the jigsaw in the revitalisation of Dolne Miasto. Gdańskie Nieruchomości is restoring the former beauty and functionality of the tenement houses here. Recently, they have completed, among other things, the modernisation of the tenement house at Łąkowa 20, and previously a narrow house at Łąkowa 18. To this list we can add the recently completed renovation of the building at Łąkowa 28. What can we say, Gdańsk is becoming more beautiful!
Source:Gdańsk Real Estate
See also:Architecture|Makeover|Renovation|History|Gdańsk
