In the very heart of Poznań, at 62 Garbary Street, a comprehensive renovation of a historic tenement house from the 19th century is underway. The building, which has not undergone any major renovation work for more than a century, will regain its former splendour thanks to an investment by the Lagom Nieruchomości company. The planned completion date is the end of 2025.
History of the Garbary 62 tenement house
The history of the property dates back to the early 19th century, followed by a major reconstruction in 1872 and a rebuilding in 1895. The current architecture of the tenement has a unified character, indicating that to a large extent the building, including the outbuilding, was built precisely in 1895. Traces of earlier forms are now almost invisible. In the past, the building was directly adjacent to the Warta River and had an additional part facing Mostowa Street, but this was destroyed during the Second World War. The building had been in a very poor state of repair for years – the falling plaster, the absence of one of the balconies and the neglected staircase deterred passers-by. As a result of the numerous neglected buildings, the local housing estate council appealed to the mayor of Poznan, Jacek Jaskowiak, in 2024 to carry out a technical audit of the tenements in the Old Town.
Lagom Nieruchomości saves a monument
The new owner, the Lagom Nieruchomości company, acquired the tenement with a view to its general renovation, for which nearly PLN 5 million was allocated. Although the building posed no immediate threat to the residents, it needed urgent renovation to regain its aesthetic and functional value. Due to the historical nature of the building and its location in a conservation area, the investor had to obtain permission from the Municipal Conservator of Monuments before starting the work. It was also necessary to carry out archaeological research in the tenement’s courtyard. After the necessary construction and conservation documentation had been prepared, permission was granted for comprehensive renovation works in August 2024.
Garbary 62 – characteristics of the tenement house
The tenement is part of a compact frontage – it neighbours a corner building of similar height to the south and a lower building to the north. The main part of the building was built on a rectangular plan with a protruding trapezoidal staircase. To the rear of the building are outbuildings surrounding a semi-open courtyard. The front (west) elevation is distinguished by its symmetry. It has six window axes, of which the outermost axes are slightly protruding, forming pseudo-horizalites. In the central part of the ground floor there is a gate passage. Two balconies with metal wrought-iron balustrades are an interesting architectural feature. There is also a hook of the former tramway traction on the first floor.
New life for the Garbary 62 tenement – scope of renovation work
The planned works include the renovation of the front elevation with the restoration of architectural details, the renovation of the staircases, the roof and the woodwork, including the restoration of historical woodcarving details. One of the missing balconies will also be restored, and the historic paintings in the hallway will regain their former splendour. In addition, there will be new wooden doors and gates and new installations will be laid in the building. Once the renovation is complete, the townhouse will be used for residential purposes, with commercial premises on the ground floor. There will be around 40 units for sale, including two-storey flats and flats ranging from 25 to 60 sq m with balconies. The developer declares that the courtyard space will be developed as a green oasis for residents, without excessive parking. It is planned to create a recreational area with plenty of greenery and space for bicycles. The company authorities are also considering the possibility of a mural on the back wall of the building, which would refer to the historical location of the tenement on the Warta River. This idea is at the conceptual stage.
Source: Lagom Nieruchomości press materials, gloswielkopolski.pl
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