The Perun factory is set to be given a new lease of life. A major investment on Grochowska Street in Warsaw!

·2 September 2026

Work is getting underway on Grochowska Street to protect the historic halls ahead of the start of construction. The former Perun Factory is set to be given a new lease of life. Work is due to begin as early as September on the Perun site, one of the most distinctive development projects in Warsaw’s Praga-Południe district. The developer behind the project, Alides Polska, plans not only to build residential properties on the site of the former factory, but above all to preserve and revitalise the historic part of the former industrial complex. The four existing halls will undergo thorough renovation and be repurposed for new commercial uses.

The Perun Factory, which was ahead of its time

The site of the former Perun Factory is a place where the industrial history of Warsaw remains evident to this day. Perun’s origins date back to the early decades of the 20th century, when welding began to play an increasingly important role in the development of European industry. In 1913, oxygen production commenced in Warsaw at the ‘Perun’ company. Three years later, on the initiative of engineer Alfred Sznerr, the L’Air Liquide representative office merged with the ‘Perun’ Joint-Stock Company. The resulting “Perun” Joint-Stock Company began manufacturing welding equipment and materials on Grochowska Street.

After the First World War, the company entered a period of dynamic growth. In 1919, Alfred Sznerr became its director, and he led the company until 1944. Perun’s plants produced, amongst other things, oxygen, cutting equipment and materials used in gas and electric welding. Perun was not only one of the pioneers of Polish welding. During the interwar period, it developed the use of oxygen in medicine, healthcare and emergency services, producing equipment for oxygen therapy as well as lamps for the fire service and railway rescue services. The Perun factory also made its mark on the history of Polish architecture. At the turn of the 1920s and 1930s, the company constructed the welded framework of the PKO building in Warsaw. Weighing 700 tonnes, the framework was, at the time, the largest structure of its kind in Europe. Such a wide-ranging scope of activity demonstrates just how important a centre of Polish technical innovation this Warsaw factory was.

Industrial heritage in a new role

The buildings of the former Perun site, which have survived to this day, will serve as a tangible reminder of industrial history. Alides Polska has decided to integrate them into a contemporary development. The project, designed by the renowned WWAA architectural practice, will combine the preserved post-industrial buildings with contemporary residential architecture and new spaces accessible to local residents. The new buildings are ultimately set to house 242 flats and commercial premises to serve the needs of residents in the estate and the surrounding area.

The project will enter the construction phase at the beginning of September 2026. One of the most challenging aspects of the work will be the modernisation of four former industrial halls, which will be preserved and adapted for new uses. Ultimately, they will house commercial premises, ensuring that the historic part of the complex remains an integral part of neighbourhood life.

A new lease of life for industrial halls

Work on the historic buildings will be carried out whilst respecting their industrial character. As part of the wide-ranging renovation work, plans include, amongst other things, removing the existing roofs, transporting their components away for conservation, restoring windows that had been bricked up, and carrying out a comprehensive restoration of the halls to suit their new functions.

“The process will require reconciling two seemingly conflicting objectives: preserving the authenticity of the site whilst simultaneously preparing the former buildings for a completely new use. “We want the elements that define the character of the former factory to remain an important part of the architecture of the entire complex,” says architect Marcin Mostafa of WWAA.

“For us, Perun is a project with character – we’re not starting from scratch – we’re stepping onto a site with a ready-made history stretching back over a century. The start of construction work marks the beginning of the most fascinating stage of this process and the moment when we can begin to restore the historic halls to their former glory. The preserved buildings will not become a closed-off relic of the past or a mere decorative feature of the estate. “We want Perun’s history to remain present once the development is complete and to blend naturally with the contemporary life of this place,” adds Luiza Grunwald, CO – Director of Alides Polska.

Not just flats. A new part of the city

The architectural design for the development was created by the Warsaw-based studio WWAA, founded by Natalia Paszkowska and Marcin Mostafa. Rather than competing with Perun’s industrial heritage, the new architecture is intended to provide a contemporary backdrop for it. The fragmented forms, façades and the use of concrete, mesh and plaster will all reference the site’s industrial character. The sightlines, meanwhile, have been designed so that the brick halls remain clearly visible and continue to play a prominent role. The development is also intended to remain open to the city. The estate will be open to the public, and green spaces and an educational trail recounting the history of the former factory will be situated amongst the residential and commercial facilities.

The start of construction does not mark the end of the Perun Factory’s story. On the contrary, more than a century after production began in Warsaw, the site is entering the next stage of its history. The former industrial complex will become home to 242 new flats, commercial premises and public spaces, whilst retaining what has set it apart on the map of Warsaw for over a century.

About Alides Polska

Alides Polska is the Polish branch of the Belgian investor and property developer Alides, which has been operating on the domestic market since 2017. The company specialises in residential, office and regeneration projects, carried out in line with its Real Estate Upcycling strategy. The Alides Group operates in Belgium, Luxembourg and Poland, focusing on high quality, sustainable development and the creation of lasting value for cities and their residents. Alides’ roots date back to 1892, when the Maes family from Ghent first set up their business. Today, it is one of the longest-established private property development companies in Europe.

Find out more about the development: www.fabryka-perun.pl

More about Alides Polska: www.alides.pl