We wrote about the possibility of the estate being included in the register of historic buildings a few months ago HERE. Now we have seen the final of the proceedings. The Mazovian Voivodeship Historic Preservation Officer has decided that the Warsaw housing estate erected in the 1960s should be entered in the register of monuments. Zatrasie was entered in the register of monuments. What distinguishes this modernist building complex?
The Zatrasie housing estate, located in Warsaw’s Żoliborz district, is one of the most interesting examples of post-war residential architecture. By a decision of the Mazovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments, the historical building complex of the estate was entered in the register of immovable monuments. This decision emphasises not only the aesthetic value, but also the ideological significance of this complex, as it documents the author’s concept realised in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was designed by a team led by Jacek Nowicki with the collaboration of Wacław Materski, Jerzy Osuchowski, Tadeusz Fiećka and landscape architect Wanda Staniewicz. Andrzej Wadowski was responsible for the structural design, together with Seweryn Hauler and Aleksander Koch.
Zatrasie. History
Work on the Zatrasie housing estate began in 1962 with the laying of the foundation stone, and the first works started from the north-eastern corner of the site. The implementation of the project was gradual – initially three colonies were built according to the original architectural assumptions, using big-block technology (gas concrete walls). As early as 1964, modifications were made to the project, including the raising of the housing and the use of large block technology. After 1965 the project was adjusted to the requirements of the so-called Warsaw Unification UW2, which influenced the standardisation of solutions. The construction of the housing estate was completed in 1972, and the work was carried out first by Społeczne Przedsiębiorstwo Budowlane and then by Przedsiębiorstwo Budownictwa Uprzemysłowionego from Jelonki.
A total of 37 residential buildings were erected on the Zatrasia site, which became the foundation of an integrated residential area. The complex was equipped with public facilities, including a school, a public kindergarten and a creative work house. In addition, service and retail pavilions, transformers and garages have been designed, thus inscribing the functionality of the estate into the everyday life of its residents. Despite initial plans to build a cinema and a community centre, these facilities were not realised, making the character of the estate mainly focused on the residential aspect.
Aesthetic coherence
One of the most striking elements of the Zatrasie estate is its homogeneous architectural development. The facades of the buildings were carefully plastered and painted white, varied with details in grey, yellow or red that differentiated the individual colonies. This approach not only gives the estate a coherent appearance, but also emphasises its late-modern character. The result is a space in which the original dimensions and masses of the buildings create a harmonious composition, while maintaining a unique view and spatial relationship.
Arrangement of green spaces
An integral part of the estate is the carefully planned green space, which completes the architectural coherence of the complex. The green space arrangement was completed in 1974, creating a friendly environment for the residents. A walking avenue and a garden were laid out within the estate, as well as a recreational area that includes sports fields and playgrounds. Additional landscaping elements and decorative spatial forms emphasise the attention to detail and combine functionality with aesthetics.
Cultural significance
The Zatrasie housing estate is not only an example of a well-thought-out architectural concept, but also an important element of the heritage of post-war urbanism in Warsaw. In the era of modernist minimalism, which rejected the hitherto dominant socialist realist style and combined pre-war traditions with modern needs, this project represents a milestone in the development of Warsaw’s residential construction.
Objects from the 1960s and 1970s are now of particular interest to preservationists, as confirmed by the entries in the register of monuments of, among others, the building of the former Hungarian Commercial Exposition (1972) and the Warsaw Central Railway Station (1972-1974). In this context, the Zatrasie housing estate becomes not only a testimony to the historical approach to urban space design, but also a valuable link documenting the architectural achievements of that period.
Source: Mazovian Voivodeship Historic Preservation Officer
Photos: WUOZ in Warsaw
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Curiosities | History | Modernism | Warsaw
