A comprehensive renovation of the Dovecote located at 59 Puławska Street, also known as the Gothic House, is underway in Warsaw’s Mokotów district. This characteristic building, which is a symbol of the district, is undergoing a thorough renovation, covering both its external structure and interior. The work, which is being carried out under the supervision of the Capital Conservator of Monuments, aims to restore the building to its former glory.
The Dovecote, erected at the end of the 18th century to a design by Szymon Bogumił Zug, originally served as a gate leading to the Lubomirski estate. At the time, the tower served as a dwelling place for pigeons. Today, the gate is the entrance to the Morskie Oko Park, and to commemorate its winged inhabitants, symbolic openings have been preserved through which the birds once flew. After the war damage, the tower was rebuilt, although without some of the original details, such as the canopy over the bird holes. Today, there is a clock on the north façade that plays the melody of the ‘March of Mokotow’ every day at 5pm.
The surroundings of the Dovecote circa 1915. Source: Polon Digital National Library
The last major refurbishment of the Dovecote was carried out in the 1980s, when the roof was reshaped, small dormers added and the roofing replaced. Now it is time for another renovation, which aims not only to refresh the building but also to restore its historic character.
The ongoing renovation includes a wide range of works to restore both the building’s external structure and its interior. Work has started with the foundations, which, along with the plinth, will be waterproofed. The walls will then be repaired, and the plasterwork on the building and gate will be restored according to the original patterns. In addition, the band around the building, the glyphs and the external sills will be renewed and replenished. New flashings will be made of copper sheet, and the shingles on the slopes and turrets will be restored based on historic patterns. The tower will also receive a new decorative spire.
The interior of the tower will also undergo extensive renovation. In the basement, the floor will be waterproofed, the walls will be renovated and the interior plaster will be repaired and painted. The renovation will also include the renewal of floors, stairs, balustrades, windows and doors. The attic will be thermally insulated, providing better conditions inside the building.
Once the work is completed, the ground floor of the tower on Puławska Street will continue to house the clockmaker’s shop, which has been an integral part of the monument for years. The renovation is being carried out by Zakład Gospodarowania Nieruchomościami (ZGN) Mokotów.
Source: Stołeczny Konserwator Zabytków (Warsaw Monument Conservator)
Read also: Architecture | Monument | Renovation | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
