The renovation of a corner tenement house located at 2 Batorego Street, at the intersection with Łobzowska Street, has been completed in Kraków. The building from 1910, which is protected under the municipal register of historical monuments, underwent a comprehensive renovation of the front elevation and roof. The work lasted from 2023 to 2025 and was subsidised by the Social Committee for Renovation of Krakow Monuments.
Scope of works at 2 Batorego Street
The works carried out were aimed at preserving the historical character of the building and improving its technical condition. As part of the works, the roof truss was conserved, preserving its original structure. The roofing made of galvanised sheet metal was replaced with more durable titanium-zinc sheet metal. With the help of archival blueprints, it was possible to open the missing so-called snow gallery, also popularly known as a snow fence. In addition, the badly deteriorated plasterwork on the facades was renewed, restoring its original appearance and colour, and the window and door woodwork was restored, unifying its colour. Metalwork details such as pot covers and balcony balustrades were also addressed. During the renovation, new flashings were made and vertical insulation of the basement walls was carried out, significantly improving the technical conditions of the building and protecting it from damp.
Discoveries during the renovation
In July 2024, during work in the attic, carpentry marks were discovered that had been carved into the elements of the roof trusses by the builders more than 120 years ago. These marks, which had once served an auxiliary function in the assembly of the structure, had survived in surprisingly good condition. Further work also revealed that some of the bricks laid on the attic floor bore signatures, presumably of the makers of the material. The discovery provided a valuable source of information on the history of the building.
Art Nouveau style and architectural details
The building at 2 Batorego Street represents the Art Nouveau style, which appears both on the façades and in the decoration of the entrance hall. A characteristic motif here are four lisens topped with female masks, which are one of the most recognisable elements of the façade. The wrought-iron balustrades of the balconies or the bands around the windows are additional decorations testifying to this style. Thanks to meticulous work, the building has regained its former splendour and has once again become an ornament of this part of Krakow.
Source: Municipality of Krakow
Photos: Paweł Krzan
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The tenement house at Batorego 2 before and after the works. Photo: Paweł Krzan
