The classicist water feature located in the heart of Warsaw’s Na Książęce park, which had been covered in scribbles and graffiti for years, has just regained its former glory thanks to specialised conservation work. The project required the use of advanced technology and diligence in removing contaminants that had deeply penetrated the sandstone structure.
The classicist water feature in the city’s Na Książęce Street park is an Oligocene water spring, built as a park structure in the 1950s. The building is decorated with sandstone cladding with detail in the form of stone lion’s heads, from which water originally flowed, and decorations in the form of garlands and a cornice. The facades of the monument have been subject to vandalism over a number of years in the form of numerous paintings, inscriptions and tags. These build-ups and drawings, as well as the usual scribbles or vulgar slogans, tightly covered the walls and sculptural decoration. Coloured aerosol paints, waterproof markers and fluorescent pigments with different, sometimes aggressive chemical compositions, penetrated deeply into the structure of the porous stone. This contributed to its deterioration process. The scribbles completely disrupted the aesthetic perception of this historic building.
As part of the restoration work, carried out under the supervision of the Office of the Capital Conservator of Monuments, specialised methods and chemical-mechanical preparations were used to remove the graffiti. The biggest challenge proved to be the cleaning of the lion’s heads, where a delicate approach was necessary in order not to disturb their unique sculptural details. These pieces were eventually coated with a special mortar that integrates with the surface of the stone, providing a harmonious appearance and protection from further contamination. The most persistent graffiti on the façade, which could not be removed with chemicals, was dealt with in a similar way. The traces of contamination were integrated colourfully into the sandstone surface with silicate paints.
Completing the project was the protection of the façade with an anti-graffiti layer, which, although it restricts the flow of water vapour, provides an effective protective barrier against future vandalism. The total cost of the works, including specialised technology and materials, amounted to PLN 65,000 and was financed by the Warsaw Greenery Authority.
The renovation of the water feature in Na Książęce Park not only restored its original appearance, but also ensured the long-term protection and durability of this historic monument.
Source: um.warszawa.pl
Read also: Architecture | Renovation | City | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
