The Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments has decided that the Intraco skyscraper at 2 Stawki Street in Warsaw does not meet the criteria for individual entry in the register of monuments. The decision paves the way for the owner’s planned demolition of one of the most recognisable post-war office buildings in the capital and the construction of a new building in its place, which may determine the future of this characteristic landmark of northern Śródmieście.
We already reported at the beginning of the year that Polski Holding Nieruchomości had obtained a permit to demolish the skyscraper. This decision was not welcomed by members of the Warsaw Monument Defenders organisation, at whose request the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments initiated proceedings to enter the office building in the register. The procedure began with an inspection of the building and an analysis of the evidence gathered. The process, which lasted several weeks, came to an end on Thursday, 12 March, when the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments announced that Intraco should not be entered in the register of immovable monuments.
Marcin Dawidowicz, Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, explains his decision as follows:
In analysing the case in question, an assessment of its historical, artistic and scientific value was made, taking into account the facts established during the inspection of the building carried out on 19 February 2026. As indicated in the guidelines of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage of 28 November 2023 “The object is evaluated in its current state of preservation and form. This means that the basis for assessing its historical value cannot be the historical description of the object, especially if the object has undergone extensive reconstruction and adaptation. The value of the building is not determined by its original design, and even less so by an unrealised design concept. The subject of conservation is the monument as a material document of a bygone era, and not its unpreserved or unrealised form.” On the basis of the collected material, it should be concluded that the property at 2 Stawki Street, due to the transformations made to the building and the development around it, does not have the value that would justify its entry in the register of immovable monuments.
And he adds:
Although the Intraco office building was one of the first “skyscrapers” in Warsaw, it was not included in the municipal register of monuments
[…]
. The lack of any protection of the building led to the implementation of works as a result of which the building lost its form, which was a carrier of artistic and historical values. These were mainly a general modernisation and superstructure from 1998-2000, which fundamentally changed the form and dimensions of the building
[…]
, interior modernisation from 2002-2004
[…]
and a change in development from 2020-2022
[…]
. What is more, despite the colour scheme of the curtain walls, completely contemporary solutions were used, which, according to the designer’s intention, allowed for “a new image of the office building”. In this respect, the current form of the building is completely different from the original design.
Originally, the Intraco skyscraper looked completely different. This is what it looked like in 1975:
What does the decision of the conservator of monuments mean? It gives the owner the green light to proceed. Polski Holding Nieruchomości announces the complete demolition of Intraco and the construction of a new skyscraper in its place, which is to resemble the current one in form, but meet contemporary standards. The company argues that the existing office building is outdated and uneconomical to modernise, while the planned facility is to be more energy-efficient, safe and user-friendly. The schedule provides for the submission of a building permit application at the turn of the first and second quarters of 2026. The demolition of the skyscraper itself is expected to take up to 16 months. The new skyscraper is expected to appear in the Warsaw skyline in 2030.
Intraco currently and the new project. Photo: Google Maps and FS&P ARCUS
Intraco I was built between 1973 and 1975 in the post-war reconstruction of Muranów, at the intersection of Stawki and Andersa Streets. The investment was carried out by the Swedish company BPA Byggproduktion AB on behalf of the foreign trade company “Intraco”, and the building itself was intended for foreign technical and commercial representations. For some time, the skyscraper was the tallest office building in Warsaw and one of the few places where dozens of companies from different countries operated.
The author of the design was Peter Diebitsch, who proposed a form characteristic of late modernism: a compact, prismatic structure and a dark green glass façade that clearly stood out from its surroundings. The original ceramic cladding was replaced in 1998 when the previous material had worn out. The tower was 138 metres high, had 39 floors and offered approximately 31,500 square metres of office space. Inside, there were restaurants, a bar, conference facilities, service points and an underground car park for 200 cars.
What is your opinion on Intraco?
Loading ...source: Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments
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