The former school building at 17 Bukowy Street in Lipiny, one of the districts of Świętochłowice, is currently undergoing modernisation. Although the building is not listed in the register of monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship, it is listed in the municipal register of monuments and for years has been one of the most characteristic landmarks of the district. Unfortunately, during the adaptation works, the historic entrance door was destroyed, which sparked an outcry from Internet users and the local community.
The three-storey building was constructed between 1904 and 1906 as the headquarters of the People’s School No. IV, later transformed into Primary School No. 14. Over the following years, it housed various educational institutions, including the Medical High School, the High School of Economics and the Economic and Information Technology School Complex. From 2013 to 2016, the building served as the St. Albert’s Aid Society House. After the end of this activity and the termination of the lease agreement in 2016, the building stood empty until it was sold to the Warsaw-based OBIEGŁO INVESTMENTS company in May 2023 for the amount of PLN 565,600.
The school in Lipiny before redevelopment. Photo author: Eugeniusz S./fotopolska.eu, Licence: CC-BY 3.0
The new owner undertook the redevelopment and conversion of the building into a multi-family building. Unfortunately, the renovation work, in addition to the restoration of the historic façade, also brought damage. The historic entrance door, which was to be preserved as a decorative element inside the staircase, was cut in half, and the doorway was partially bricked up by installing a window in it.
The door before and after destruction. Photo Google Maps and City of Swietochlowice in the photograph – continued
KIMI Architekci, the company responsible for the design documentation, addressed the situation, confirming that the doors were supposed to be preserved, but that damage had occurred during the renovation phase. Our attempt to contact the owner of the building, OBIEGŁO INVESTMENTS, for an explanation has so far been unsuccessful.
According to the staff of KIMI Architekci, they participated in the discussions between the investor and the city representatives, and it was the City Conservator of Monuments who, at the design stage, asked the investor to keep the front door in its original form and the designers to find a new place for it in the building after the reconstruction. The door was intended to be a decoration inside the main staircase and no one planned to destroy it.
The doors before and after their destruction. Photo Google Maps and the City of Swietochlowice in the photograph – continued
Unfortunately, the developer did not comply with this request and the doors were not retained. KIMI Architects add that they do not know how this happened, or where and in what condition the severed part is located. It is possible that the wings will be exposed in the rebuilt building, but there are many indications that they have simply been irretrievably destroyed. The situation has attracted sharp criticism from residents of Świętochłowice, internet users and lovers of local architecture. Many of them emphasise that the building, although it does not have the formal status of a monument on a provincial scale, has great historical and cultural significance for the Lipiny district.
The former school building before and during modernisation. Photo: Eugeniusz S./fotopolska.eu
The building at 17 Beech Street was not only a place of education, but also witnessed many social and cultural changes in Lipiny. Its monumental volume and distinctive architecture have been a symbol of local identity for decades. Decisions related to its renovation therefore arouse emotions, especially when they concern the destruction of its original elements. The further fate of the historic door remains in question.
Source: slazag.pl, City of Świętochłowice in photographs – continued
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