The former Reichert bakery in Praga-South in Warsaw was until recently to fall into the hands of a developer, who planned to mostly demolish the monument and overbuild the remains with a new structure. Eventually, however, the building was acquired by the district and saved from destruction.There are plans to comprehensively renovate it and give it new functions
The bakery building was constructed in the 1920s. It consists of a body and two wings surrounding a small courtyard. It is a two-storey, brick building with pitched roofs. It is one of the most characteristic buildings in the entire Grochów district and the last example of industrial architecture in this part of Warsaw preserved in its original form
Reichert’s Bakery. Photo: Warsaw City Hall – Praga-Południe
It is located in the immediate vicinity of Wiatraczna Roundabout, which is a central part of the district. The bakery has been expanded, and as a result the signs of various brickworks are preserved on the bricks. Since the defence of Warsaw in 1939, a trace of artillery shelling has remained on the façade from Wiatraczna Street. Before World War II, the bakery was considered one of the best in this part of the capital. During the German occupation, the owner kept guild documents of great historical value there (including privileges of Sigismund Augustus, Władysław IV and Jan Kazimierz), and between 1942 and 1943 donated bread to organisations providing aid to the poor
Reichert’s bakery. Photo: Warsaw City Hall – Praga-Południe
After the war, the building was nationalised. Teodor Reichert’s descendants recovered the bakery in 2012. It soon became apparent that they could not afford to renovate the building and therefore wanted to sell it. A company was interested in buying it and intended to demolish most of the buildings. Fortunately, this did not happen. After protests, the general monuments conservation officer cancelled the permission issued by the provincial conservator for the demolition. As a result, the investor gave up. When Reichert’s descendants again tried to sell the plot with the bakery to another developer, the district authorities decided to exercise their right of first refusal. In this way, the bakery was acquired by the district of Praga-Południe and is to be used for social and cultural purposes in the future, after renovation
Source: Warsaw City Hall – Praga-Południe, Tu było, tu stało
Read also: Architecture | City | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
