An international architectural competition has been announced for the concept of reconstruction of the Saski Palace, the Brühl Palace and three tenement houses on Królewska Street in Warsaw. „The reconstruction will be carried out in accordance with the principles of conservation reconstruction, i.e. with the preservation of relatively authentic materials and technology”, announced Minister of Culture Piotr Gliński.
At the press conference, the Minister pointed out that the exterior of the Palace will look as it did in August 1939, but the interior and the functionality of individual rooms remain to be resolved.
„We know that these three large properties, i.e. the Saxon Palace, the Brühl Palace and the tenements on the side of Królewska Street, will be used by the Senate of the Republic of Poland, the Voivodship Office, as well as five cultural institutions supervised by the Ministry of Culture: The National Museum in Warsaw, the Frederic Chopin Institute, the Polish History Museum, Zachęta and the “Niepodległa” Office”, added the minister.
The organiser of the competition for the architectural concept is the Saski Palace Company – established in accordance with the Saski Palace Reconstruction Act. The operator of the competition is the Association of Polish Architects – the most experienced institution which conducts international competitions of this kind.
The competition will proceed in two stages. In the first phase, there will be a pre-selection of architecture offices that apply to participate in the competition. In the second stage, five architectural firms will be invited to submit concrete works.
„I hope that the competition will run smoothly. It has already been announced on the relevant European Union websites. We will also post the rules of the competition on our website”, said the head of the Ministry of Culture.
Minister Gliński emphasised that, in accordance with conservation recommendations, one of the important objectives of the competition is the separation of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the preservation of the cellars.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński