The Cantonists’ Barracks in Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park are set to undergo a transformation for visitors. The renovation and modernisation of this 19th-century building, which has been in the planning stages for years, is intended to be a step towards opening the institution and the garden itself even more widely to the public. It is not only the building itself that will undergo a transformation, but also the architecture of the permanent exhibition, whose layout will invite visitors to reflect more deeply on the relationship between humans and wild animals and the natural world around them. Architects from the WXCA studio are responsible for the redevelopment project of the historic Kantonists’ Barracks and the new layout of the permanent exhibition at the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw.
Rediscovering faded connections
The historic Kantonists’ Barracks building is situated within the Royal Łazienki Park in Warsaw, in the part of the complex known as the Folwark. Built in 1828, the Classical-style building fortunately escaped destruction during the war. For years, however, it had been in need of thorough renovation. The project for the reconstruction and modernisation of the building, designed by the architects at WXCA, is an attempt to bring out the qualities and potential of its architecture, which had been obscured by later additions and alterations, and to re-establish the spatial relationship that the building originally had with the surrounding garden.
Numerous interventions in the building’s structure over the years have rendered its layout less legible and the space enclosed. Currently, the only entrance to the museum is on the north side, which makes the building’s entrance area relatively dark, cramped and, ultimately, unwelcoming to visitors. The project envisages the restoration of the former opening on the southern façade – that is, on the side of the former paddock. This area will become the building’s natural forecourt: an attractive entrance space that will showcase the building’s architecture and extend an invitation to step inside.
This ‘reorientation of the building’ will allow it to be reconnected with the garden, whilst also integrating it into the network of existing footpaths. As the architects emphasise, one of the main design intentions was for this off-the-beaten-track building to once again become a popular destination on the map of Łazienki Park. The landscape complex in the form of a plateau, created as a result of this “turning” process, will not only be a place for meetings and recreation amidst greenery, but also for education, which will be able to take place both as part of open-air museum lessons and through independent, first-hand observation of the animals living in the garden.
The new entrance area will also functionally ‘bring’ the building closer to the adjacent New Palm House. The forecourt will feature new street furniture and a circular pond, which will emphasise the axis of the barracks building.
“Łazienki Królewskie is home to many residents; it provides shelter for peacocks, squirrels, foxes, hedgehogs, birds and other species of wildlife that have for years contributed to the unique character of this place. In designing the revitalised space, we wanted to emphasise this harmonious coexistence of nature and architecture. Our aim was to create solutions that not only meet the needs of visitors but also respect the existing ecosystem and allow it to continue functioning naturally. Contemporary architecture, including landscape architecture, must today, above all, be mindful of nature, the local context and the rhythm of life in the area,” emphasises Ewelina Szeląg from WXCA.
Incorporating contemporary perspectives
This ‘reversal’ of the building may be a symbolic expression not only of the institution’s new openness to the public and the garden space, but also to new, contemporary research perspectives and views on the relationship between humans and the nature that surrounds them. The permanent exhibition, based on the collection’s holdings but enriched with new themes, will be organised around five ways of engaging with these relationships: observation, research, hunting, domestication and collecting.
This broadening of perspective will be expressed through the exhibition design. The main narrative vehicles will be rare taxidermy specimens and works of art; the multi-layered narrative will be supported by elaborate scenography and multifunctional educational spaces.
“The permanent exhibition in the Cantonists’ Barracks is the last unmodernised exhibition within the Łazienki complex. It undoubtedly possesses scientific potential, but its scenography is in need of updating, which already clearly hinders visitors’ appreciation of it. The small size of the venue also presents a challenge. However, contemporary museum institutions should make an effort to constantly research and reinterpret their collections in order to create spaces that are more inclusive, open and responsive to the needs of today’s visitors,” notes Marta Boguta from the Royal Łazienki Museum in Warsaw
The architecture of the exhibition space will maintain a simple aesthetic consistent with the character of the building itself. The off-white plastered walls will be set against darker, warm-toned wooden display cases and oak floors. A key part of the building’s refurbishment will be the revelation of elements that give the interiors their unique character – plans include returning the staircase to its original location, exposing the oak ceiling beams and removing secondary brickwork. All this is intended to emphasise the unique character of the massive, original walls, the spaciousness of the interiors, and the windows offering views of the surrounding landscape, which are characteristic of this historic building. As a result of the modernisation, both the building and the exhibition space will be fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.
The redevelopment of the Kantonists’ Barracks will begin later this year. The works are scheduled to be completed in early 2029.
Changes in museology, changes in museums
Creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard and ‘building new connections’ are now understood as one of the fundamental tasks of museums. That is why the theme of this year’s International Museum Day – an event organised annually on 18 May by the International Council of Museums – has been established as “Museums Uniting a Divided World”. This slogan serves as a reminder of the social mission of museums – as institutions and public spaces – which is particularly relevant today, given the dynamic changes and complex crises and challenges we face in the modern world.
As the organisers write, “The theme ‘Museums Uniting a Divided World’ highlights the potential of museums to act as bridges across social, cultural and geopolitical divides, fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and peace – both within communities and between communities around the world.”
Although thinking about museums through the prism of their public function is nothing new, the specific nature of understanding this function changes alongside the perception of the role that cultural institutions are to play in contemporary societies. Today’s museums, unlike the ‘temples of the Muses’ of yesteryear, no longer serve merely to collect artefacts, and their activities extend beyond the mere classification, display or conservation of exhibits. Rather than the exhibit itself, they focus on its relationship with the viewer. Furthermore, as Prof. Marcin Napiórkowski, Director of the Museum of Polish History, points out, instead of proposing a single, coherent, self-contained narrative for an exhibition, today’s museums should create a shared space in which different voices can engage in dialogue. The exhibition itself is merely a starting point and an invitation to discussion, which is continued through the institution’s wide-ranging programme of activities. These changes have led to transformations in the architecture of contemporary museum buildings, which, rather than being ‘sterile’ storage facilities that create distance, now aim to be vibrant, welcoming and multifunctional cultural centres.
“We are interested in mindful architecture, the kind that does not dominate a place but brings out its existing values and identity. Today’s museums should be spaces for dialogue, openness and shared experience, responding to contemporary social needs. Architecture can create the conditions for different perspectives to meet, build a sense of community and encourage people to pause in a world full of sensory overload. We believe that it is precisely such places—vibrant, accessible and rooted in their context—that are becoming the most important role of cultural institutions today,” says Marta Sękulska-Wrońska of WXCA.
For example, in the case of the aforementioned Museum of Polish History, designed by the WXCA studio, the exhibition space occupies less than a fifth of the total area. The museum’s staff and visitors also have access to an auditorium seating 600 people, a cinema and theatre hall, a library, conference and lecture rooms, and specialist conservation workshops. Together with the neighbouring Polish Army Museum, the complex constitutes one of the most modern museum complexes of its kind in Europe, and at the same time a space for practising remembrance and celebrating community.
The role of social dialogue is also emphasised by the design of the Museum of the Greater Poland Uprising 1918–1919, currently under construction in Poznań. At its centre, between the four museum blocks, there will be a public square designed with all the residents of Poznań in mind. This contemporary agora, which the architects describe as a place for ‘face-to-face encounters’, serves as a reminder of values such as community and cooperation – the foundations that were the source of the historical success of the Greater Poland Uprising. The multi-layered symbolism, though firmly rooted in the history of the Greater Poland Uprising, is thus a story of universal values that remain unchanged to this day. As the architects emphasise, it is also a response to the pressing challenges of the present day – the need for physical spaces that support democratic dialogue in an era of crises such as social polarisation fuelled by the antagonistic logic of social media, or the information chaos exacerbated by online deepfakes and fake news.
A similar idea guided the architects whilst working on the design for the Lubomirski Princes’ Museum in Wrocław. The museum’s form embodies the vision of a contemporary urban palace which – though inspired by the architecture of stately city residences – remains open to residents, inviting them inside. It will combine the functions of both a secure ‘vault’ for over 330,000 priceless exhibits and a place for direct engagement with the canon of world art and the centuries-old heritage of European culture. Construction of the museum has just begun.
source: press materials
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