pic from freeform site
@. Zabkowska 27/31
architect. ??
finished. 1897
This part of Praga is known as Szmulowizna and was populated in teh 19th century by many factories (see Fabryka Trzciny). Vodka production in 2006 when the factory went bankrupt. During its 112 years it created such popular Polish spirits as Wyborowa, Luksusowa and Żubrówka. Today it is in limbo. While currently the complex is home to Teatr Wytwórnia, Galeria Klimy Bocheńskiej, galeria fotograficzna Luksfera oraz Magazyn Praga and hosts various festivals and events (the excellent freeform festival for example) it has been bought by BBI Development. The historic 19th century, red-brick, neo-gothic (the gate-house resembles a Loire castle) industrial yard is slated for a renovation that would salvage the most archtiecturally valuable buildings and add various new ones, creating a mixture of public/park space, housing, cultural venues and commercial possiblities. Various sources have differing opinions as to the accessibility of the new cultural complex. Some inist it will become yet another gated community for the rich in Warsaw while others believe it will become an integrated cultural center in the working-class Praga neighborhood. In either case, most of the buildings are historic landmarks and have to be saved. Less valuable buildings were demolished in the spring of 2009, however the project seems to be at a standstill (crisis mode) and the various institutions that have been functioning there, remain. If you visit Koneser today you will see an eirie courtyard with almost no information to explain what is going on - intriguing but abandoned.
The renderings of the renovation seem interesting - it looks well thought out and designed. In fact some of the architects involved are responsible for the Paper Factory renewal in Konstancin Jeziorna. If Koneser remains an open public space I think it just might be successful. The plague of Warsaw right now is the gated housing community and I hope that these new projects (Norblin too) can set a new trend.
An interesting book, newly published, about industrial architecture in Warsaw.
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