The revitalisation of the historic complex of buildings of the Schaffgotschs’ estate office from the 17th/18th century has been completed. The Karkonosze National Park became the owner of the site ten years ago. The management decided to convert the building into its new headquarters and a Museum and Education Centre. The premise of the investment was to realise an energy self-sufficient complex using renewable energy sources.In turn, the main conservation objectives were the removal of secondary buildings and outbuildings and the restoration of outbuildings with historic roof forms, the full revalorisation of the palace and the preserved elements ofthe complex
Design began in 2014 with an architectural competition. It was won by Pracownia Architektoniczna 1997, which was best suited to the programmatic needs of the park. It made the right design decisions, particularly regarding the exhibition space, to which the entire concept was subordinated. The proposals for the revitalisation of the entire site were also appreciated, sustainable, environmentally friendly, including the reconstruction of non-existing buildings in a contemporary form
View of the renovated palace and stone staircase
The complex of buildings of the Schaffgotschs’ estate office is located in the central part of Sobieszów. The date of the erection of the manor buildings is unknown, presumably it was already functioning in the 14th century. The palace, built in the years 1705-1712 to a design by the architect Elias Scholz of Boles³awiec, commissioned by Anton von Schaffgotsch, became the main seat of the estate office and at the same time the dominant element of the complex. Originally the palace-park-farm complex (until 1945) consisted of: the palace – the estate manager’s building, a small park located on the hill next to the palace, the laundry building, the steward’s building next to the palace, and on the lower terrace a residential and business outbuilding housing the steward’s house, with a carriage house and stables, a small stable, the manager’s house, a granary, a barn and the relics of the ruined brewery building with an annex housing the weighing scales on the lower courtyard. The ruin of the old steward’s house was demolished around 1950
The chateau before and after restoration
Entrance building and stone columns before and after
The Great Stables before and after restoration
After 1945, garages (now relics of ruins) were built on the site of the brewery. After 1945, as part of the adaptation to new forms of use (including a change of function to an agricultural and veterinary school), a number of changes were made to the complex. In the palace building, the original staircase and the spatial arrangement of the floors were destroyed, together with the decoration and furnishings. In 1983, a school sports complex – a gymnasium – was added to the palace and connected to the palace building. A number of buildings accompanying the chateau were also rebuilt, which obliterated their original and historical features. After the liquidation of the school at the beginning of the 21st century, the farmstead remained unused, undergoing slow destruction and devastation. In 2013 it was taken over by the Karkonoski National Park, which undertook to raise the estate from ruin
The palace granary before and after renovation
The palace granary before and after renovation
Gardener’s House past and present
The palace is the most important building in the entire ensemble. The geometry of the former staircase and veranda has been recreated there using contemporary means. The ground floor was dedicated to an exhibition on the history of the Schaffgotsch family. The upper floors house the offices of the National Park. The sub-basement was enlarged and used for utility and technical purposes. Original details, stucco and other elements were restored and supplemented. In the buildings forming the Schaffgotsch manor office complex, it was decided to restore their original beauty and form, which had been lost as a result of misguided alterations. The thoroughly renovated buildings now house exhibition spaces, conference rooms, a restaurant, guest rooms or rooms for educational workshops for children and young people. All of these rooms are located in historic buildings, so the spirit of the past can be felt in them. Wherever possible, the preserved architectural elements of the buildings have been exposed. As a result, despite the adaptation of the entire establishment to modern requirements and new functions, one can clearly see where one is
The grounds were also developed and landscaped to varying heights, with a maypole in the middle and a park. The entire complex conceals contemporary technology for environmental sustainability, based on renewable energy
The photographs are from the KPN’s own collection, the 1997 Architectural Studio and Mr Rafał Kotylak and Mr Wojciech Miastkowski.
Source: pa1997.pl, nj24.pl, kpnmab.pl
Read also: Architecture | Metamorphosis | Renovation | Monument | History | Palace | Villas and residences
