The Pilecki Family House Museum is located in Ostrow Mazowiecka. It was created as a result of the adaptation of Maria Pilecka’s family home and extension with a new part. The design of the building was prepared by architects from the BDR Architekci studio. The office is also responsible for the interior of the building.
The investor of the Pilecki Family House Museum was the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Town Hall of Ostrów Mazowiecka. The architects’ main objective was to restore the lost character of the old house and complement it with new buildings that would emphasise the qualities of the garden and serve as a background for the historic building. In order not to overshadow the old block, the new part was moved away and connected by a glass connector.
The form of the pavilion is light. The pavilion blends in with its surroundings through extensive glazing. The architects have placed an emphasis on creating a harmonious and open atmosphere for the museum events.
Combining the historic qualities of the house with the new pavilion required the creation of an environment combining elements of a familiar, small-town ornamental garden with forms corresponding to the character of contemporary architecture. Located in the front part, the regular garden was given vegetation, which was tried to be recreated on the basis of archival photographs. In this one, planting beds for cut flowers and ornamental plants have been laid out in imitation of the past. There is also a utility section in the garden prepared for growing fruit and vegetables.
We wanted the garden, the renovated house and the pavilion, with its bright interiors, to be optimistic and without a heavy museum narrative. It seems to us that this will make the difficult history of the Pileckis Family presented in the exhibition resonate even more clearly. By the way, there is a chance that the first museum in Ostrow Mazowiecki will be a place where residents and visitors will not only learn something, but also relax contemplating the surrounding nature – say the authors of the project.
The Pilecki Family House Museum is dedicated to Witold and Maria Pilecki. Its grand opening was held on 2 November 2022. The historic house belonged to the Ostrowski family, Witold Pilecki’s in-laws. Maria Pilecka and her children spent the time of the occupation here until 1948. The museum also presents the history of the Ostrowskie region and north-eastern Mazovia. The museum also recalls German crimes against Jews and Poles in the village of Lipniak-Majorat.
Designed by BDR Architects(https://bdr-architekci.pl): Konrad Basan, Paweł Dadok, Maria Roj, Michał Rogowski
Author collaboration: exexe architectural studio: Jakub Pstraś, Ligia Krajewska
Interior design: BDR Architekci sp. z o.o.
Landscape architecture: la.wa architektura krajobrazu Łukasz Kowalski
Construction: TMJ Projekt
photography: Marcin Czechowicz
Read also: Museum | Culture | Art | Minimalism | Interiors | Featured | whiteMAD on Instagram
