In addition to its operational function, a fire station building can also be a representative landmark of a city. Public buildings often reflect the aesthetic and urban design of their time. A good example of this is the historic fire station standing on Grunwaldzka Street in Poznań. Despite its impressive history of over a hundred years, the building still fulfils its original role. Its excellent photographs were taken by Tomasz Hejna, who runs the blog Stary Poznań Then and Now.
Location of the monument
The watchtower stands a little off to the side, away from the bustle of Grunwaldzka Street and the prying eyes of passers-by. Since 1929, it has been overshadowed by the massive edifice of the former Hotel Polonia – at the time the largest in the country. Soon after its completion, the building was turned into a hospital, a function it still performs today as the Medical University’s Specialised Clinical Hospital. The fire station building, although now part of the Grunwald district, originally served the Jeżyce Fire Brigade unit, which is still reflected in its common name.
Grunwaldzka Street fire station – history
The building was erected in 1908 as part of Posen’s then developing network of modern fire protection. The author of the design was the city architect Fritz Teubner, who gave the building a very representative and perhaps even somewhat pompous character. Here, the designer combined Baroque forms with brick and half-timbered detailing, fashionable in Germany at the time. From 1928, the building also housed Poznań’s first ambulance service.
Architecture and function
The building was designed as a multifunctional structure. The ground floor housed the garages and stables, while the upper storeys were arranged to accommodate the firefighters. The tall tower added to the building served as a training and technical facility. The interior of the fire station was organised around a central garage. The building was equipped with equipment that was modern for its time, including telegraphic apparatus. Despite the passage of more than a century, it has retained its historical character and function. In 2014, the fire station underwent a comprehensive renovation, during which its original architectural and technical features, somewhat bitten by the teeth of time, were restored. The effects of the work have been immortalised on the fanpage Old Poznań Then and Now.
Source: zabytek.pl
Photos: Stary Poznań Then and Now
Read also: History | Monument | Poznań | Curiosities | Metamorphosis | Architecture in Poland
