The former Railway Management Building in Bydgoszcz at 63 Dworcowa Street has a chance for a new life. The owner of the building, the Konkret Group from Poznań, has presented a concept for its renovation. The monumental building, erected at the end of the 19th century in Mannerist style, is to be transformed into a luxury hotel under the City Park Hotel & Residence Bydgoszcz brand. The project envisages preserving the historic character and restoring architectural details bitten by the tooth of time, as well as adapting the interiors to meet modern needs.
Railway Management Building in Bydgoszcz – history and characteristics of the building
The design of the building was entrusted to the Berlin architectural firm of Gropius und Schmieden. Completed in 1888, the building was constructed as the headquarters of the Directorate of the Prussian Eastern Railway and served a representative function from the start. The two-storey building with a two-storey attic is distinguished by its brick facade finish, rich stonework ornamentation and towers with helmets. The interiors were decorated with fancy paintings, stucco, sculptures and other details. The presidium hall, which was more than eight metres high, attracted particular attention, as did the spacious hall and representative staircase. This was complemented by three inner courtyards and a picturesque location next to the Brda River.
Renovation plan for the monument
Konkret Group acquired a majority share in the property over two years ago. Since then, work has been carried out on the concept, the main idea of which is to respect the value of the monument and realise its potential. The project envisages restoring the façade to its original appearance, completing damaged elements and renewing the representative interiors. On the ground floor, a lobby with a reception area, a hotel bar and exhibition space and a conference room are to be created. The presidium hall will be adapted into a banquet hall and the upper floors will serve as hotel rooms.
Investor experience
Poznan-based Konkret Group has a track record of successful realisations in the field of heritage adaptations. One of its flagship projects is the City Park complex in Poznań, resulting from the redevelopment of former barracks. The building has won numerous awards, including the Jan Baptista Quadro Award for the best architectural project in 2008. The company is also working on the Modlin Fortress, where a three-star hotel is planned in the historic Kadetów Gate.
Importance of the project for the city
The former Railway Directorate building is one of the most important examples of turn-of-the-century architecture in Bydgoszcz. It is distinguished by a style rarely used in the official buildings of Prussia at the time. Despite changing owners, the edifice has retained its representative form and details that still attract architecture lovers. The renovation planned by Konkret Group has a chance to restore it to its former glory and give it a new function, enriching the city’s tourist and hotel offer.
Visit the Railway Management Building!
The former headquarters of the Prussian Eastern Railway Directorate in Bydgoszcz, which has remained closed since 2013, will be opened again – this time to the public. The Konkret Group, together with the Bydgoszcz Local Tourist Organisation “ByLOT”, will prepare guided tours to learn about the history of the edifice even before its renovation. The first tours will begin in October 2025. At least three walks in groups of around 20 people are planned, carried out as part of the promotion of the ‘Immerse yourself in Bydgoszcz’ tourism brand. Enrolment will be carried out through the ByLOT online shop.
Source: Konkret Group
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | Bydgoszcz
The building before and after renovation. Photo Pit1233, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons and Grupa Konkret
