Poznań’s famous Renaissance town hall is undergoing renovation. Scaffolding has been erected on the tower and facades, and the design of the new interior layout and permanent exhibition has been entrusted to the Rotterdam-based firm MD-2 ARCHITECTS. The opening of this priceless monument and the exhibition is expected at the turn of 2027 and 2028.
MD-2 ARCHITECTS to design the new exhibition
At the end of May this year, the National Museum in Poznań signed a contract with Michał Długajczyk and his Rotterdam-based studio, MD-2 ARCHITECTS. It was he who won the competition for the concept of the new exhibition, as a result of which he was invited to negotiate the preparation of the full design documentation. He is now responsible for creating the detailed design for the permanent exhibition on the ground floor and the first and second floors of Poznań Town Hall – the Poznań Museum. Michał’s responsibilities will also include personal supervision of the project’s implementation.
Poznań Town Hall will be as good as new
The contract will take 19 months to complete and has been divided into three parts. The first involves updating and supplementing the competition concept in accordance with the guidelines drawn up after the competition concluded. The architect has three weeks from the start of work to do this. Next, complete construction documentation will be produced, containing drawings, technical specifications, bills of quantities and cost estimates required to select a contractor for the exhibition. The documentation is to be submitted within a maximum of 80 days from the completion of the first stage. The final element will be the architect’s supervision, continuing until the completed exhibition is accepted.
The largest conservation project in a quarter of a century
The work at the town hall is the largest conservation project currently underway in Poznań. The last comprehensive renovation of the façade of this Renaissance monument took place around 25 years ago. Since then, damage requiring repair has appeared on the plasterwork, decorations and stone ornamentation. The project is part of the programme “Museum of Poznań – expansion, conservation and public access to the city’s most valuable Renaissance monuments”, run by the National Museum in Poznań. In 2024, the Ministry of Culture allocated approximately PLN 90 million for the continuation of the project.
Poznań Town Hall – renovation from the cellars to the tower
The scope of the project covers many parts of the building. Work is being carried out on the ground floor and the two main storeys. Conservators are working on the famous Renaissance Hall, the attic, the tower, the technical installations and the architectural details. Sgraffito, stucco, paintings, stone elements, roof tiles, sheet metal and metalwork are all being restored. From a distance, one can see the town hall tower ‘wrapped’ in scaffolding; its height and rich ornamentation require a specialised and careful approach. Work is currently underway there on the plasterwork, decorations, roof structure, and the clock mechanism and Poznań’s famous goats.
A new story about Poznań
Inside, a completely new exhibition is taking shape. Visitors will gain access to the restored historic interiors and an exhibition presenting the city’s history from the Middle Ages to the present day. Areas previously inaccessible to the public will also be opened up, and the entire building will be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. According to current plans, the renovation of the façade should be completed by the end of summer 2027, whilst the opening of the refurbished town hall and the new exhibition is expected at the turn of 2027 and 2028.
Source: MD-2 ARCHITECTS
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