PL | ENStay informed
Piotrkowska 96. Architectural Icon.
The sight of neglected buildings in Polish city centres is something we shouldn’t have to become accustomed to. Rather than let buildings worsen and consequently end up being demolished, they should be transformed into a usable condition. Luckily, thanks to the latest architectural and building solutions there are period buildings which are destined to regain their former glory.
In the heart of Lodz
Soon, in the most famous street in Lodz, the period building at 96 Piotrkowska Street is going to undergo a total restoration and revival. The building was erected for the Siemens headquarters. In the past the building also served as a headquarters of a bank and then as a newspaper office. After the war the building was occupied by numerous other companies. Owing to neglect over many years, the condition of the building worsened and now it requires substantial resources in order to regain its original beautiful state.
Unique design
Verity Development Sp. z o.o. has taken up the challenge to revitalize this most prominent building at Piotrkowska Street. In the historic interior of the building (totaling 4400 sqm), the developer plans to create apartments, modern offices, and retail space. The ground floor of the building will create an exclusive piazza with boutiques and cafes. On the upper levels there will be A-class standard offices with air-conditioning and finished to the highest standards. The upper floors, in turn, have been dedicated to luxurious apartments. The conversion of the top floor of the building into three duplex penthouses overlooking Piotrkowska Street will provide an exceptional transformation. The penthouse entrances are via an exclusive panoramic lift that carries residents to private terraces on the penultimate floor. Piotrkowska 96 is without doubt an ideal place for those who prefer a city lifestyle and companies which value the highest standards, together with the most prestigious location. Hence, the commercial element of the project is generating considerable interest among famous brands and household names.
Glamour of the form
According to the investment’s slogan, the project should harmoniously combine tradition and modernity. Spacious terraces, panoramic elevator, and air-conditioning will transform the 100-year-old building into a modern multifunctional icon of the latest trends. As one would expect, the redevelopment will be carried out with the highest regard to the original features of the building, which are a mark of its great history. In order to regain the former glory of the building, the latest architectural solutions will be utilized. Thanks to high quality materials such as natural stone, stainless steel and glass, the building will become even more splendid than before.
Revitalizing historic buildings utilizing state of the art architectural standards while maintaining the original features of the building is a much more ambitious challenge than starting a building from the foundations upwards. When such a challenge succeeds, the developer feels a tremendous sense of satisfaction. Very soon we could witness such a challenge being taken on and assess if Verity Development will restore this architectural icon and breathe into it new life.
2009, 6 Oct – The heart of the city is beating stronger and stronger…
Restoring to life, what can be yet restored, is making new investments at Piotrkowska Street
The neglected Piotrkowska Street needed a refreshment and companies decided to come with help. Verity Development, the Wrocław-based company, is going to redevelop and revitalize a historic building at 96 Piotrkowska Street. Will other companies follow their example? Let’s hope so.
The Piotrkowska 96 project is a multifunctional building of highest standard, combining classic and modernity. Apart from luxurious apartments, there will be office and retail spaces.
In order to regain past glamour of the building, which dates back to the turn of the 20ieth century, the most recent architectural trends will be employed. Much attention will be devoted to retain the sand-like façade and elegant ornaments, says Ewa Skrzypczak, manager from Verity Development. Thanks to high quality materials such as natural stone, fine steel, glass, the building will gain more splendour than ever before.
The construction of this 6-level-building hasn’t yet started. But soon the company will enter into negotiations with potential contractors. The building works are expected to commence at the beginning of next year and will last until the 1st quarter of 2011.
The modern building will offer 17 luxurious apartments with areas from 40 to 140 sqm. The top floors have been dedicated for duplex penthouses, to which residents can be brought by a panoramic lift that stops at their individual terrace on the penultimate floor. Terraces are of imposing sizes 40, 60 sqm; in the duplex apartments they can even exceed 95 sqm. The only drawback of the investment is a lack of garages; however the investor has come with a solution making ca 50 parking places to lease on the adjacent plot right behind the building.
The ground floor of the building has been designed for an exclusive retail space creating a passage with boutiques and cafes open for everyone (the atrium will be covered by a glass roof protecting against bad weather). On offer there are one- and two-level retail spaces ranging from 56 to 277sqm.
On the upper levels there will be offices carefully designed to meet the requirements of future tenants. The building offers open-space offices with areas from 128 to 316 sqm. The office spaces will be air-conditioned and finished to the highest standards.
Likewise the common parts will be finished. The original marble steps and landings at the staircases will be renovated, the internal banisters made of steel will be stylized to the historic design. The existing external walls are made of ceramic brick, the new ones will be constructed of masonry ceramic blocks. The elevation will have a cladding of sand-stone, mineral plaster, and partly of polished granite.
All necessary installations will be provided in the building; each apartment will have an individual water and heat meter. Additionally residents could benefit from air-conditioning, gravity ventilation, and videophones.
The building located at the Lodz promenade, which is especially lively at weekends, will be guarded 24h a day. The ground floor, however, will be accessible for everyone. At the entrance a reception room was planned for a guard to operate monitoring and control the site.
source: Dziennik Łódzki
2008, 12 Dec – Piotrkowska 96 – building permit
In December, 2008, Eurozone Development, a company owned by Verity Development, was granted a renovation and reconstruction permit for its monument-listed building located at 96 Piotrkowska street in Łódź. As a result of this revitalization project, the existing building will be transformed into a multi-functional structure. Construction works will be commenced at the beginning of 2009. The project’s completion date is estimated for the first half of 2010.
2008, 23 Jul – Piotrkowska 96 redevelopment is acknowledged by Lodz Officials
In July, Verity Development took part in a conference concerning revitalization of Piotrkowska Street in Lodz organized by the Municipality and attended by the vice-president of the city – Marek Michalik.
During the conference Bartlomiej Tomiczek - representative of Verity Development – presented the revitalization project of the 100-year old building located at 96 Piotrkowska Street. This historical building will be redesigned as a multi-functional high-standard project which combines tradition and modernity. The ground floor of the building will be adapted for high-standard retail space. The upper floors will accommodate modern offices and luxurious apartments with terraces.
A special team managed by the vice-president of Lodz Marek Michalik, has been appointed to develop a strategy for revitalization of this thoroughfare. The main idea of the municipal venture focused on restoring representative city function to Piotrkowska street (as the main street in Lodz) by its reconstruction and transformation into a prestigious retail and cultural center, which will become a focal point for this growing industrial agglomeration.
2008, 4 Jul – Piotrkowska street and its surrounding is undergoing a change
The 100-year old tenement building at 96 Piotrkowska street, former Siemens seat, is transforming into an exclusive office, residential and commercial complex. Its investor – Verity Development Sp. z o.o. - will complete renovation of this historic building by the year 2010.
The front wall of the building will be renovated and the internal courtyard will be covered with a glass roof. The 4-thousand square meter area of this tenement house will accommodate 17 apartments, luxurious offices and commercial space. The building will be equipped with an air conditioning installation.
- This project corresponds with our development strategy for Piotrkowska street revitalization program – explains Marek Michalik. – We will restore former splendor to this building.