A project from years ago. Poznań could once again have an arsenal and cloth halls.

·20 January 2026

The post-war destruction of Poznań left behind a great void, which for years was attempted to be filled with compromises between history and the realities of reconstruction. This coincided with a time of great changes in the perception of architecture. Architect Michał Szymankiewicz returned to one of the unrealised ideas and, with the help of AI-based tools (despite their imperfections), translated the archival concept of the reconstruction of the Old Market Square into an image that fits into the current space of this place. The biggest difference is the block in the middle of the market square, specifically the arsenal and the cloth halls.

The arsenal and cloth hall in Poznań

In the modern era, the central part of Poznań’s market square was a densely built-up area. In the 17th century, there was an arsenal there, built on the site of earlier commercial buildings. Opposite it stood another elongated building, known as the cloth hall. The layout did not remain unchanged and underwent further transformations until, in the 19th century, the old buildings were replaced by tenement houses. Despite the change in the nature of these buildings, they were still separated by a narrow street. The Old Market Square then took on a more distinctly urban character. Throughout the entire area, old tenement houses were replaced with new buildings, often of much larger dimensions.

The guardhouse and both town halls in 1934. Source: NAC

World War II in Poznań

The fighting for Poznań in the final phase of World War II resulted in enormous losses. Heavy shelling of the nearby Winiary Fort caused the destruction of a significant part of the buildings in the Old Town (about 60%), and the buildings in the centre of the market square were reduced to burnt ruins. They were not considered for reconstruction, so after the rubble was cleared and the Budniczy Houses and the Guardhouse were rebuilt, an open space was created there. This gave the architects of the time a huge opportunity to show off their skills.

Post-war vision for the reconstruction of the city

The reconstruction of the market square was entrusted to teams of architects and planners associated with the Poznań University of Technology and municipal design offices. One of the most important figures was Zbigniew Zieliński, co-author of the general concept for the Old Market Square. His vision assumed a logical layout of buildings and clear spatial relationships, which was positively received by the Poznań architectural community. The arsenal and cloth halls, inspired by traditional buildings and matching the overall character of the historic neighbourhood, were to return to the site of the demolished tenement houses in the centre of the main square. Unfortunately, the fate of this proposal was decided by the authorities, who had the final say in shaping the post-war heart of the city. The concept was rejected.

The Arsenal and Cloth Hall – modernism instead of historicism

In the second half of the 1950s, it was decided to implement a completely new idea, in line with the spirit of progress. This choice was dictated by the monument protection regulations in force at the time and the political conditions of the era. The lack of complete historical documentation of the former arsenal and cloth halls became the main argument against reconstruction (this was not a problem in the case of Przemysł’s Castle), and the new buildings were to clearly communicate the time of their construction. The modernist form also met functional needs, especially in the context of the planned exhibition functions. Thus, two modern pavilions dedicated to culture and museums, including the Arsenał Municipal Gallery, appeared in the centre of Poznań’s Old Market Square. The only trace of their non-existent predecessors are brick marks on the floor.

Model by Jan Cieśliński and Zbigniew Zieliński

The design for the reconstruction of the Old Market Square by a team of architects under the supervision of Zbigniew Zieliński and Jan Cieśliński was created in 1956. It included, among other things, a plaster model presenting alternative proposals for the development of the market square, including a version of the arsenal and cloth halls with more traditional shapes, high roofs, decorated gables and arcades along Wiankowa Street (today J.B. Quadro Street). A multi-storey grocery store with delicatessen was to operate there. Architect Michał Szymankiewicz took up this vision and, using artificial intelligence, gave it a realistic form. The idea, which had been lying in the city archives for many years, reappeared in the imagination of Poznań residents.