Advanced renovation work on the former pavilion at the intersection of Marszałkowska Street and Jerozolimskie Avenue in Warsaw, where Cepelia was located for many years, is nearing completion. The historic building already impresses with its refreshed appearance. The pavilion is one of the symbols of modernist architecture in communist Poland, designed by Zygmunt Stępiński and opened in 1966. on 13 December, it will officially become the headquarters of the modern flagship store of the Empik chain. The Bernatek Architekci studio is responsible for the renovation project of the building, and the investor and contractor is its owner, Sienna 111.
Cepelia’s original design was distinguished by its lightweight steel skeleton and almost fully glazed facades, which gave the whole structure the impression of floating in the air. It was an example of architecture that was open to public space, merging with street life. In its heyday, the pavilion housed a shop selling handicrafts by Polish folk artists, acting as a centre for promoting culture and traditional products.
Cepelia in 1966. Photo: Stolica weekly, no. 6 (1000) 05.02.1967.
Over decades of use, the building gradually lost its original character. The delicate details disappeared, and the façade was covered with orange cladding and large format advertisements, which completely obliterated the former character of the monument. When the last tenant left, the pavilion fell into disrepair and its future was uncertain.
Cepelia in 2023 and 2024. Photo by Adrian Grycuk, CC BY-SA 3.0 PL, via Wikimedia Commons and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
In 2019, the Cepelia pavilion was entered in the register of monuments, safeguarding its historical and architectural value. In February 2023, the long-awaited renovation work began to restore the building’s modernist appearance. Amongst other things, the work included the restoration of the ceramic cladding by Stanislaw Kucharski, the restoration of the distinctive wall covering, the free-standing display cabinets, and the whole building was upgraded for contemporary standards of use.
View from the south before and after the renovation. Photo: whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Empik neon signs have additionally been installed on the roof and façade, which are reminiscent of the former Cepelia sign installations. The historic pavilion has regained its original charm and style, once again becoming a decoration of the area around the busy roundabout and a reminder of the precious heritage of Warsaw’s modernism.
The historic mosaic before and after the works. Photo: whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Empik has moved into the renovated pavilion, creating a 1,300 sq m showroom spread over three levels. The new location is distinguished not only by the largest selection of vinyl records in unique and collector’s editions, but also by a special music zone with gadgets for fans and a wide range of books in foreign editions. An important element of the store is a stage for cultural events and author meetings, which will make this location not only a shopping destination, but also the cultural centre of the capital.
The pavilion in 2020 and 2024. Photo: Wistula, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The opening of Empik on Marszałkowska Street fills the gap left by the chain’s former flagship store on Nowy Świat, closed in 2022 due to a rent increase. The return of Cepelia in its new guise is proof that modernist heritage can still inspire and gain new functions. Thanks to the conservationists’ efforts and the commitment of the new tenant, Cepelia once again impresses with its lightness and openness, harking back to the ideas that guided its design in the 1960s.
Source: tvn24.pl, nowawarszawa.pl
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