A comprehensive renovation of the façade of a tenement building standing at 62 Targowa St. in Warsaw has begun. The building, erected at the end of the 19th century and which lost almost all its architectural detail in the post-war period, is to regain its original appearance thanks to research and financial support from the city.
Reconstruction after years
The tenement house was built in the last decade of the 19th century for Hersz Grunberg, a merchant from Nalewki. The building was given a neo-Gothic style and was distinguished above all by the rich decoration of the façade. The building survived World War II without major damage, but was in need of renovation. At the time, it was decided that instead of carrying out conservation work, it would be easier to scrape off almost the entire impressive, but too bourgeois façade. The ceramic cladding was therefore removed and most of the decoration destroyed. In the 1960s, work was carried out, which was limited to applying secondary plaster to the mutilated façade, simplifying the balconies and replacing the window frames.
62 Targowa Street – original appearance
In 2024, the residential community initiated a project to restore the original appearance of the façade. Architectural surveys and analysis of the surviving fragments of ceramic veneer were crucial in restoring its colour and form. Photographic documentation and comparisons with other neo-Gothic townhouses in Warsaw were also helpful. The collected material made it possible to prepare a reconstruction project and obtain the necessary conservation permits. The City of Warsaw has earmarked more than PLN 351,000 for the project, which is part of the estimated cost of the entire investment of more than PLN 1.5 million.
Scope of conservation work
The scope of the work currently underway includes comprehensive measures, including the removal of secondary plaster, the repair and decongestion of the masonry, the reconstruction of the ceramic facing and the stucco and sculptural decoration. Neo-Gothic metalwork and historic balconies will be restored. Also envisaged is the replacement of flashings and guttering, insulation of foundations, tidying up of signs and replacement of windows in the common areas, including the reconstruction of the most impressive ones – the pointed-arch ones. However, the project does not include windows in private units or shop windows. One flat, however, has retained its original green woodwork, which could form the basis for the restoration of historic windows in the future.
62 Targowa Street and other renovations
Work on the front façade is underway, with completion scheduled for October 2025. Thanks to this investment, carried out with the involvement of the housing community and financial support from the city, the tenement house at 62 Targowa Street has a chance to regain its former character and once again become one of Prague’s architectural landmarks. The district has carried out some spectacular renovations in recent years, proving that even badly mutilated buildings have a chance of being saved.
Source: Warsaw City Hall
Read also: Architecture | Tenement | City | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
62 Targowa Street in 1941 and today. Source: Mazovian Voivodeship Historic Preservation Officer and Google Maps
The facade of the tenement currently and the reconstruction project. Source: Google Maps and Warsaw City Hall
