In the summer of 2023, photovoltaic modules appeared on the roof of St Brigid’s Basilica in Gdańsk. They were installed without the consent of the provincial conservator of monuments, which is required for any work carried out on protected buildings. After the matter came to light, the office initiated measures to restore the appearance of the temple to its condition from before the installation of the ugly installation. Although the panels were not visible from street level, their presence was considered a violation of heritage regulations.
Photovoltaics and monuments
The conservator stresses that listed buildings are subject to different rules than other buildings. Owners of such buildings must look for solutions that harmonise with their character. In the Pomeranian region, the use of wind turbines is more effective than photovoltaics. Such devices can be introduced into the surroundings of sacred buildings in a way that avoids adverse changes to their silhouettes.
Consequences for the parish of St Brigid in Gdansk
The decision of the Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments to remove the installation was upheld by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Following an inspection following this decision, the parish was fined and required to remove the panels by the end of 2024. This deadline was not met, leading to another inspection and a second fine. The parish priest asked the conservation officer for additional time to comply with the order. The authority set a deadline and the work finally started. The whole procedure took a long time, more than two years.
NO to panels on a monument
However, the process of removing the illegal modules that has begun has sparked a discussion about how to introduce new energy solutions in protected buildings. Questions include how to reconcile architectural conservation with the search for energy savings and attempts to reduce maintenance costs. Various voices have emerged under a post on the Pomeranian Regional Conservation Officer’s website regarding the dismantling. The decision has both supporters and opponents.
The history of St Brigid’s Church in Gdansk
The first religious building was erected on this site in the mid-14th century as the Chapel of St Magdalene. Expansion was later carried out by the Brigidines, who were brought to Gdansk. In 1945, the church suffered severe damage and remained in ruins for many years. To make matters worse, a fire broke out in 1957, affecting the last fragments of the roof trusses and part of the gable of the south aisle. Reconstruction did not begin until 1970 on the initiative of parish priest Henryk Jankowski. Over time, the church became associated with the activities of Lech Wałęsa and the “Solidarity” movement, and thus gained the status of an important place for circles centred around the changes of the 1980s. Its interior contains, among other things, an amber altar and an ossuary in the oldest part of the church.
Guidelines for energy investments in monuments
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage reminds us that any planned renewable energy measure must take into account the values of the monument and its safety. The guidelines, issued in 2023, emphasise that the development of new technologies requires an individual assessment of each project and its adaptation to the nature of the specific site.
Source: Pomeranian Provincial Conservator of Monuments
Photos: St Brigid’s Parish in Gdansk
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Sacral architecture | Monuments | History | Gdańsk
