Egypt is one of the world’s oldest civilisations, famous for its monumental architecture that has aroused the admiration of historians for centuries. The pyramids, temples and tombs continue to inspire and fascinate scholars and art lovers. Although the true heritage of ancient Egypt is to be found in the north of Africa, its substitute can also be found in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In the Tarnowski Park in Końskie stands the Egyptian Orangery, also known as the “Egyptian House”, which is currently undergoing extensive renovation and will be adapted as a facility for children with disabilities.
History and architecture of the Egyptian Orangery
The Egyptian Orangery is the work of the Italian architect Francesco Maria Lanci, who in 1825 designed the building at the behest of Anna Malachowska, wife of Stanislaw Malachowski – owner of the palace and garden complex at Końskie. Although Lanci had never been to Egypt, he drew inspiration from the work “Description de l’Égypte” (“Description of Egypt”) – a publication created by scientists accompanying Napoleon on his expedition to that country in 1789. He also drew on buildings from the Ptolemaic-Roman period, particularly the temple at Dendera.
The Orangery is an example of the Egyptianising trend in architecture and one of only a few buildings of this type in Poland. Others include the Egyptian Temple in the Warsaw Łazienki Park or the tomb of Gustaw Kamieński and his family in the Powązki cemetery. The building at Końskie measures 54.75 m x 7.25 m and is located in the north-western part of the park. The main entrance, located on the southern façade, is decorated with a hieroglyphic portal and reliefs depicting a solar disk. The windows are flanked by columns decorated with papyrus leaves, and above them is the characteristic mask of the goddess Hator. The side elevations are in the form of pylons, whose niches contain statues of pharaohs, probably from the Amenophis dynasty.
Originally, the building served as a hothouse where exotic ornamental plants were grown. In the 1960s, a new part was added, which disrupted the character of the building. It was then used to house the Koneck cultural centre and the Egyptian Cafe. The establishment operated until 2022. After it moved out of the former orangery, the building remained unused.
Gorofil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Renovation of the Egyptian Orangery and new purpose of the building
The long-awaited renovation of the monument began in spring 2024. The work was preceded by an exploratory survey to assess the condition of the foundations and roof. The conservator approved the project to renovate the woodwork and demolish secondary internal partition walls. Ultimately, the colour scheme of the building will remain unchanged and the façade will only be refreshed. The historic window divisions on the south façade will also be retained. Once the renovation is complete, the Egyptian Orangery will be transformed into a facility for children with disabilities, accommodating approximately one hundred people. Due to the historic nature of the building and its location in the historic park, it is not planned to surround it with a fence. If the work goes according to plan, the Egyptian will be ready for use in September 2025.
The Egyptian Orangery is the last building in the palace and park complex at Końskie that has not yet undergone renovation. In recent years, with the support of European and government funds, the Końskie municipality has carried out a major renovation of the complex, including the Malachowski palace, the former carpentry shop and the gazebo.
Source: zabytek.pl, pik.kielce.pl, radiokielce.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | History