Renovation of Jan Krygowski’s villa – Katowice’s functionalist icon regains its shine

The villa at 65 Kościuszki Street in Katowice, designed by the well-known architect Tadeusz Michejda for the engineer Jan Krygowski, is one of the most important examples of functionalist architecture in Silesia. Erected in 1930 as the first Functionalist house in Katowice, the building had been neglected for many years, awaiting renovation to restore its former splendour. In 2011, its redevelopment began, but in the course of the work the original plan to modernise the property changed. Krygowski’s villa became an intimidating ruin for many years.

The building was erected in the form of a horizontal cuboid, and is also distinguished by horizontal window strips and a cut corner. In addition, a characteristic element of the building is the flat roof, on which a terrace has been placed. The strips of brick – visible between the corner windows and on the semi-circular risalit – emphasise the horizontal layout of the façade. As part of an extension in 2011, a new three-storey block with large glazing was added, changing the original character of the building. Despite this, the building had been deteriorating for years, covered in layers of falling polystyrene foam, which significantly reduced its aesthetics and historical value. The villa, which was part of the “Katowice Modernism” trail, did not enjoy recognition – until the new owner decided to restore it to its former glory.

The process of renovating the villa was complicated, due to the need to meet numerous conservation requirements and to adapt to modern technological standards. The villa was to serve as a state-of-the-art office for a company specialising in cyber security and computer forensics. To meet the needs of the new user, the building had to be equipped with advanced technological facilities, including sophisticated security systems. The conversion project was entrusted to architects Agnieszka Góra of PA-AG and Dieter Paleta of ARKAT. Their main objective was to restore the original external appearance of the building, while at the same time allowing for the discreet introduction of modern technology inside. To this end, it was decided to dispense with the villa’s polystyrene insulation, opting instead for insulation on the inside, which allowed the original plasterwork and façade details to be restored in accordance with Michejda’s design.

The restoration work also included the restoration of characteristic details such as the terrazzo on the exterior staircase and the original fence, which has been given a new look. The windows, which had previously been replaced with plastic, were replaced with new wooden frames, faithfully reproducing the original size and arrangement of the muntins. Krygowski Villa has retained the original staircase, which has been carefully restored, but the designers chose to leave visible signs of ageing in the elements, giving them additional aesthetic value. The original reinforced concrete ceilings have been exposed, revealing the raw beauty of the materials from the time of construction.

Although listed as a historic building, Krygowski Villa had to be adapted to meet modern needs. The interiors were designed according to ergonomic and acoustic principles, taking into account the requirements of the new user. In addition to standard office space, there is a computer forensics laboratory, training rooms, a Security Operation Centre and special rooms for staff meetings. The interior aesthetic is based on a modest colour scheme – white, black and natural wood predominate. The designers deliberately opted for minimalist solutions in order to emphasise the historical qualities of the building and provide a harmonious working space.

The renovation of the villa at 65 Kościuszki Street is an example of the successful adaptation of a historic building to modern functions, while retaining its original character. Tadeusz Michejda’s work can once again please the eye and remind us of its roots, while serving new, advanced technologies.

TIMELINE:
1930 – construction of the villa with garden – the house of engineer Jan Krygowski (65 T. Kosciuszko St.), built according to the design of Tadeusz Michejda
2010 – extension and reconstruction project
2011 – partial implementation of the project
2022-2024 – finalisation of reconstruction

ADDRESS: 65 Kościuszki St., 40-047 Katowice
DESIGNER: ARKAT s.c., arch. Dieter Paleta, arch. Agnieszka Sobczak
PA-AG, arch. Agnieszka Góra
INTERIOR DESIGNER: PA-AG, arch. Agnieszka Góra
CONSERVATORY WORKS: Jacek Piskorski
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR: Jan Kozioł
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Janowiec Group sp z o. o. sp. k.
INVESTOR: Media sp. z o.o.
INVESTMENT SUPERVISION: Andrzej Szaton
PROJECT MANAGER: PA-AG, arch. Agnieszka Góra
AREA: 740 sq. m.

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