The construction of the new headquarters of the Museum of the Greater Poland Uprising 1918–1919 in Poznań has reached an important milestone. On 26 June, a topping-out ceremony was held at the site, which traditionally marks the completion of the structural work. The four buildings making up the museum complex have now reached their final height – for the first time, the full layout of the complex taking shape on St St. Adalbert’s Hill can be seen.
The Wielkopolska Uprising Museum, based on the idea of community
The design by the Warsaw-based WXCA studio won the competition announced in 2018 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the Greater Poland Uprising. Out of 56 entries, a concept was selected that moved away from the form of a single building. In its place, a complex of four intimate structures centred around a public square has been created. This layout evokes the image of the earliest strongholds and settlements, whilst also serving as a reminder of the power of cooperation amongst the people of Greater Poland, thanks to which the victorious uprising of 1918–1919 was a success. The public square is intended to function throughout the year as a space for events, gatherings and the everyday activities of local residents.
Stone, light and respect for the historic landscape
As the new museum is being built in the vicinity of St Adalbert’s Church, the architects have deliberately avoided a dominant design. Part of the building has been concealed within the hillside, ensuring that the historic panorama remains unspoilt. The character of this architecture is defined by natural stone, whose texture changes with the height of the façade, extensive glazing and sloping roofs treated as an integral part of the overall composition. As Marta Sękulska-Wrońska from the WXCA studio emphasises, it is only once the construction phase is complete that the relationship between the architecture and the surrounding landscape can be fully appreciated. The topping-out ceremony was also attended by architects Krzysztof Moskała, Adam Mierzwa and Małgorzata Dembowska.
The Museum of the Greater Poland Uprising in Poznań
The new Museum of the Greater Poland Uprising 1918–1919 will present the history of the only successful Polish independence uprising. The exhibition spaces will showcase the events that began on 27 December 1918, the activities of independence organisations, the course of the fighting and profiles of those who took part. Visitors will also learn about the significance of the victory – led initially by Major Stanisław Taczak and subsequently by General Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki – for the reconstruction of the Polish state after 123 years of partition. The building will also house temporary exhibition galleries, an auditorium, educational spaces, museum workshops and collection storage areas. Construction began in 2024; the value of the project exceeds 370 million zlotys, and Przemysław Terlecki, director of the Wielkopolska Museum of Independence, has announced that the museum will open on the 110th anniversary of the outbreak of the Wielkopolska Uprising.
source: WXCA
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