This project shows how to skilfully design extensions to old buildings. The historic Turk’s House in Augustow will become the home of the Augustow Manhunt Memorial House. The site will serve as a reminder of the tragic events of July 1945. The building has been restored and rebuilt to serve a museum function. The Tremend architectural studio is responsible for the project of reconstruction, extension and adaptation of the historic tenement house for the memorial site.
The Turk’s House is the usual name of the historic tenement house at 49 3 Maja Street in Augustów. Dating most likely from 1900, the building is a building with a rich, yet dramatic history.
The tenement house takes its name from the “Ankara” confectionery, popular among the inhabitants of Augustów, which was located there in the 1930s. The patisserie was run by Kamil Tiakosz, an immigrant of Bosnian origin and a Muslim, commonly referred to as “the Turk”. The dark pages of the building’s history fall in the post-war years. In 1940, the building was occupied by the NKVD. From 1945 to 1956, the District Public Security Office had its headquarters in the building. During this period, a detention centre operated in the basement of the building, where brutal interrogations and torture were carried out, both of soldiers of the independence underground and civilians. In July 1945, detainees of the August Campaign were imprisoned in the Turk’s House. The building, which witnessed tragic events, has remained in the memory of the region’s inhabitants to this day as a symbol of terror, suffering and repression.
In 2011, the historic building was entered in the register of historical monuments, while a decade later – in 2021 – the dilapidated tenement house was purchased by the Witold Pilecki Institute of Solidarity and Valour. On the initiative of the institute, the renovated Turk’s House is to become the seat of the Augustow Manhunt Memorial House – a museum facility commemorating the greatest crime against Poles after World War II, as well as telling the history of Augustów and the Suwałki region. The Tremend architectural studio is responsible for the project of reconstruction, extension and adaptation of the historic tenement house into an institution with scientific, educational and cultural functions.
As the Tremend architects confess, work on the adaptation of the Turk’s House to museum functions was carried out with full respect for its historical value. The aim of the modernisation was not only to restore the building, but also to create a space that would tell the story of the victims of the Augustow Manhunt in an engaging way.
“The Turk’s House is a place marked by history – a witness to dramatic events whose memory should last. In the design process we have tried to pay tribute to the victims and create a space for reflection. This will be helped by contemporary architectural solutions that will make the museum space inclined to reverie, while at the same time enabling a deeper understanding of the historical context,” explains Magdalena Federowicz-Boule, founder of the Tremend studio.
The redevelopment project involves preserving the building’s original historic massing with subtle changes that improve its museum functionality. The interiors have been adapted to accommodate modern exhibitions, while preserving authentic elements such as traces of former cells and architectural details. These elements were the subject of meticulous archaeological and research work during the development.
The new part of the museum is an important element of the whole assumption, which, with its form and structure, refers to nature and the surrounding landscape of Augustów, complementing and providing a background for the historical building, while at the same time harmoniously composing with it. The façade consists of a structure of vertical rhythms, which, thanks to the artistic use of chiaroscuro, gain variability depending on the time of day and year. Its aim is to make a subtle reference to the diversity of the landscape of Augustów and the surrounding area. It also makes a symbolic reference to the forests of the Augustów Primeval Forest, the setting for the tragic events associated with the Augustów Manhunt. The modern façade, made of materials and in colours harmonising with the surroundings, not only emphasises the memory of the past, but also fits in with the landscape of the town. An integral part of the whole is the Memorial Wall for the Victims of the Augustow Manhunt by the artist and architect Tomasz Trzupek, with whom the Tremend team also collaborated on the interiors and installation. The wall with the names of the victims commemorates nearly 600 people murdered in 1945.
“The concept of the memorial to the victims of the Augustow Manhunt is based on presenting the idea of the edge of the forest being both a place of execution and a place of refuge. The forest unites our communal idea of what is valuable and timeless. We wanted to create a place that does not have exclusively negative connotations, but speaks of sacrifice and sacrifice for the common good and a better future, ” describes Tomasz Trzupek.
The interior spaces of the new section have been designed to allow for a play of light and shadow, enhancing the atmosphere of reflection and thoughtfulness. In this way, the new museum becomes a combination of history and contemporary architecture, creating a place of both remembrance and education. The new Augustow Manhunt Memorial House is not only an exhibition space, but also a centre for historical education and a place to reflect on the region’s heritage. Interactive exhibitions, survivors’ testimonies and archival materials will allow a deeper understanding of this tragic history, especially for younger generations who may not be aware of the scale of the crime committed against the inhabitants of Suwałki.
The museum has been designed to be accessible to all visitors, regardless of age, ability or individual needs. The use of modern architectural solutions such as ramps, lifts and appropriate signage allows people with disabilities to move around freely. In addition, interactive and multimedia exhibitions will be adapted to the needs of the blind and visually impaired. As part of the idea of inclusivity, the museum will also offer sign language support and adapted materials for people on the autism spectrum, allowing them to visit comfortably at an adapted pace and in adapted conditions. With these solutions, the Augustow Manhunt Memorial House becomes a space open to all, enabling everyone to fully experience and understand history.
“The opening of the museum in the modernised Turk’s House, complete with contemporary themes, is a step towards restoring the memory of the victims of the Augustow Manhunt and paying them due tribute. The reconstruction of this historic building is not only an act of conservation, but first and foremost a testimony to the care for historical truth and national identity. As a result, the Turk’s House ceases to be merely a symbol of suffering – it becomes a place where history is told anew, with future generations in mind,” – emphasises Grzegorz Szymański of the Tremend team.
According to the Pilecki Institute, the museum is scheduled to be opened to the public in July this year, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Campaign.
source: Tremend
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