A second life. Architecture that works with respect

Not so long ago, the historic villa at 21/23 Wieniawskiego Street in Poznań, a city on the river Warta in west Poland, was a silent witness to oblivion. Built in 1904, with a facade full of stucco, stained glass windows, decorative balustrades and historic staircases, it was one of the most beautiful examples of urban residential architecture for many years.

After its previous occupants moved out, the villa remained abandoned for a long time. It stood there empty, unadapted and increasingly cut off from the rhythm of the city, giving a gem slowly the appearance of a ruin. The turning point came almost 10 years ago, when the Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences bought the tenement house from the City of Poznań and decided to adapt it for its own needs. Today, after a thorough renovation, it has become the seat of the modern Centre for Innovation and Social Education of the Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a space where state-of-the-art laboratories meet over a century of architectural history. But this is not just the story of one building. It is, above all, an example of a paradigm shift in design.

At a time when a culture of demolition and rebuilding prevailed, few architects dared go against the tide. The reason for this is that the most difficult path to follow is working with what already exists. It is a choice that requires not only technical knowledge and aesthetic sensibility, but also experience, patience and the ability to work with conservators, investors and contractors. It is a decision not to do violence to the landscape and materials, but to rediscover their potential.

Only a few firms in Poland have based their entire operation on this philosophy. One of them is Demiurg in Poznań, a team that has specialised in revitalisation projects and adaptations of difficult buildings for over a decade. Their projects, such as the reconstruction of the Arsenał Gallery and the revitalisation of Dziedziniec pod Słońcem in Poznań, show that it is not only possible to rebuild a structure, but also safeguard the meaning and value of a place in the fabric of a city. The PAN Villa in Poznań is one of the latest examples of this approach. It is the proof the most architecturally valuable spaces are not created when we demolish, but when we listen to what is already there.

Not from scratch, but from new

The very beginning promised a project unlike any other. When the Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences took over the villa on Wieniawskiego Street from the city, it knew that this would not be a classic renovation.

“It was an investment in historic fabric that required exceptional attention”, recalls Bartosz Kaczmarek from the Demiurg studio. “We had to fit laboratories, an educational centre and a business incubator into this historic space. There was no room for mistakes.”

The team of architects used a ‘design and build’ formula. The documentation on the table, although formally valid, did not correspond to the new functional programme or post-pandemic realities. Needs were changing dynamically and the pressure of time and quality was growing with each passing week.

“We were aware that everything we designed had to meet the highest technical standards. At the same time, we couldn't destroy what had been there for over a century”, adds Piotr Mańko, Director of the Design Office, who indicates the biggest challenge was to reverse the typical investment logic. It wasn't the architecture that dictated the conditions for the laboratories, it was the other way around.

“This was the opposite of what usually happens, technology came first. We had to adapt the entire basement and most of the floors to it. We are talking about equipment worth over 100 million Polish złoty (Ed.: 23 to 24 million euros), which had already been co-financed and selected by the Institute. There was no room for error”, explains Bartosz Kaczmarek, Proxy at Demiurg.

The basements, usually marginalised, became the surprising heart of the project, playing a key role. This is where the main laboratories, requiring special technical conditions and protection, were located. In order to adapt them, it was necessary to reinforce the foundations, and this in very difficult water conditions. It wasn't just about technology. It was a game of trust, precision and a deeply ethical approach to the building.

“We were given a building with a soul. We couldn't just cut out what was in the way and put in something new. Every design decision had to be conscious and reversible. It was architecture that respected both history and the future”, states Piotr Mańko, Director of the Design Office.

A structure that teaches humility

The list of technical challenges could serve as a chapter in a structural engineering textbook: replacement of all floors, raising the foundations in conditions of high groundwater levels and a new roof truss made of glued laminated timber, designed with the utmost precision.

“We couldn't afford to demolish all the floors at once. We worked in a checkerboard pattern, room by room, to maintain the stability of the building”, explains Emil Schreyner, Site Manager from the Demiurg team.

A similar approach was taken with the roof. The mansard structure, finished with high-quality glued laminated timber, was based on a three-dimensional inventory model. Although new, it refers to the original, as do the stucco, balustrades, stained glass and facade decorations. Those that could be preserved have been carefully restored. Those that were damaged have been recreated based on archival designs and documentation. However, what really sets this project apart is the forward-thinking approach to the future of the building.

“All installations, by which I refer to ventilation, air conditioning, energy systems and heating, have been designed so that they can be dismantled without interfering with the historical substance in the event of a change of function”, says Bartosz Kaczmarek.

Suspended ceilings have been abandoned. The installations are deliberately visible, but aesthetically pleasing, in accordance with the principles of technical exposure. This approach has been called ‘capsule architecture’, allowing the function to be changed without disturbing the framework in which it operates. Thanks to this, the building retains its flexibility and can serve a completely different purpose in the future without the need for further interference with its structure.

The design has also been thought out in terms of accessibility. The building has been adapted to the needs of people with disabilities: an external glass lift has been added to provide access to all floors. The surrounding space has been designed with equal care. For example, discreet underground recycling bins do not disturb the aesthetics of the historic surroundings.

When everyone is working towards the same goal

In architectural projects, especially those involving historic buildings, cooperation between all parties is crucial, but rarely exemplary. The villa on Wieniawskiego Street is an exception. The investor, designers, contractor and Municipal Conservator of Monuments worked in complete harmony and mutual trust. A shared responsibility for heritage allowed not only to preserve, but also to rediscover the most valuable elements of the building. The original staircases and polychrome decorations – multicoloured decorative paintings from the time when the villa was built – were restored. Decorative floors in the hallways, brass door handles, external doors and some of the internal doors were all renovated or recreated to match the originals. Even several original radiators have retained their place after careful conservation. This approach not only restores authenticity, but also allows for the creation of a new quality without losing the identity of the place.

“This is not a project that was meant to please today, it is meant to last. Architecture does not have to be fashionable but should be timeless”, emphasises Bartosz from the Demiurg team.

Even the bathrooms, although designed with contemporary standards and functionality in mind, have been deliberately styled in an unobtrusive way, with an aesthetic but neutral backdrop to the historic space. This is one of those projects where decisions were made not on the basis of immediate needs, but in a spirit of long-term responsibility. The result is a place that not only meets today's requirements but will remain relevant in a decade… and for the next generation.

Significant architecture that lasts

No to impressive facades, no to prestigious locations, no to awards, but yes to values that remain. This has been the approach of the Poznań-based Demiurg studio for years. Demiurg is one of the few in Poland that have specialised in working with historic urban fabric since their inception. At a time when most offices were choosing new investments, they sought challenges where others saw only risk: in old tenement houses, abandoned factories and neglected spaces that required not only knowledge but also courage.

“We started with projects no one wanted. For us, it was an opportunity. Because revitalisation is not just a technique, it is the ability to listen to a place. It is patience, trust and respects”, the architects emphasize.

Today, their portfolio includes projects such as the reconstruction of the Arsenał City Gallery, the modernisation of the University of Arts, the revitalisation of a historic paper mill converted into an educational space and the reconstruction of Concordia Design in Wrocław, a university city in southwestern Poland, which won the Building of the Year 2021 award from Archdaily.

Another ambitious project is in the pipeline: a depot in Jeżyce, a district of Poznań. This will be done regardless of scale, style or function, but the goal remains the same, creating architecture that makes sense. Architecture that works with respect and that stays. Today, the villa at 21/23 Wieniawskiego Street is more than just a building. It is a symbol of a change in thinking about architecture. Not as aesthetics or technology, but as responsibility. The Centre for Innovation and Social Education of the Institute of Bio-organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences is a space where the past and the future meet. Where research, education and entrepreneurship have a common address. And where every detail – from decorative door handles to emergency power systems – says that there is another way. It can be handled with respect and this for years to come.