The demolition of the baroque organist’s house in Komorniki near Poznań has been controversial and sparked heated debates. Listed in the register of historical monuments, the building, which was erected in the 18th century and moved to Komorniki from Silesia in the 19th century, was to be renovated. Unfortunately, instead of the planned restoration and preservation of the original form, the historic organist’s house was almost completely destroyed.
The organist’s house, formerly a vicarage, was a unique example of half-timbered architecture. Its value stemmed not only from its aesthetic and technical qualities, such as the building structure, door and window joinery and interior layout, but also from the history associated with Father Ksawery Malinowski. This eminent scientist, co-founder of the Poznan Society of the Friends of Science, lived in the organist’s house and conducted research into Slavic languages there and made a major contribution to the creation of the spelling rules of the Polish language. After his death, the building changed use. It was used as a shelter for farmers’ children and later as a flat for the organist. For the last 10 years or so, the building has stood empty. Unfortunately, years of neglect have led to its deterioration, but the building had the potential to become a cultural centre and a showcase for the municipality.
The organist’s house before demolition. Photo: komorniki.pl
In 2022, the local government obtained more than PLN 5 million from the Government’s Polish Order Fund for the renovation of the building. The aim was to preserve the historic character of the building, which was to serve a cultural function. on 5 September this year, work began, which included demolishing the secondary extension, then tidying up the area around the organist’s house and boarding up the windows in it. However, the construction work soon took an unexpected turn. After the foundations were undermined, the ground floor wall slipped, which conservationist Wiesław Biegański explained by the lack of foundations and the brick and timber construction. As a result, instead of saving the building, heavy equipment was used, which destroyed much of the structure, including the baroque two-storey roof.

The Komorniki municipal authorities published a post in which they addressed the whole issue.
“On 10 December 2024, during the night hours, there was a landslide of the wall of the west elevation of the organist’s house. In addition, during the inspection, large cracks and deformations of the walls of the north elevation and a landslide of the ceiling beams were noticed. Vibrations caused by cars driving along Church Street were found to be a very high risk that could cause further damage to the organistery. […] The District Building Inspectorate was notified of the situation.
In order to eliminate the hazards, i.e. further degradation of the building and danger to the life or health of construction workers and bystanders, a decision was taken to dismantle the roof structure using appropriate mechanical equipment. Structural degradation of the structure by long-term exposure to wood pests and rainwater was found. Once the roof structure was removed, it became apparent that the knee walls and gables of the building were beginning to deviate from vertical, which was caused by corroded structural joints that were not holding. The gables and knee walls also had to be dismantled. Clean-up work is currently underway, segregating the timber structure together with an inventory of the individual elements. The elements that will be possible to rebuild will be used as so-called witness.
All construction work is being carried out under the supervision of the investor, the author and the District Historic Preservation Officer with concern for the safety and health of people.”

Przemysław Pełko, deputy mayor of the Komorniki municipality, assured that the work had been carried out with due care, but the destruction of the building was criticised by local residents and experts. Architect Wojciech Hildebrandt and other observers have accused the local authority of failing to take adequate safety measures and of being reckless. As can be seen from the 1995 photos (green card) and photographs taken more recently, at least the windows – closed with a basket arch – were preserved.





Wojciech Hildebrandt, creator of the MDM Mieszkanie Dom Miasto fanpage, notes that the building disaster occurred when the rear wall of the house was undermined. At that point, the whole thing slipped. “This kind of work is done spot-on, and it was done with an excavator. Above the damaged wall hung a baroque roof, which began to tilt and the conservator, instead of securing and supporting the structure, ordered it to be taken down, in effect demolishing two-thirds of the historic structure.” The architect adds that work on such delicate half-timbered structures is done element by element, not with heavy equipment.
According to critics, this method of restoration, involving almost complete demolition and rebuilding, is becoming increasingly common. This raises questions about the sense of preservation when historic elements are replaced by dummies. Outraged by the case, activists and internet users noted that the building, despite its neglect, was suitable for renovation and that the roof – a broken Polish – was in good condition.

The local government assures that the former organist’s house will be rebuilt in its original form. However, can one speak of an authentic monument when its original structure disappears? The Komorniki case is a painful lesson for the protection of cultural heritage in Poland. It shows that the lack of proper procedures and supervision can lead to irreversible losses.
Source: zabytek.pl, komorniki.pl, epoznan. pl
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