Koncepcje odbudowy szczecińskich zabytków po 1945 roku i możliwość ich realizacji

Abstract

Th e concepts for the reconstruction of Szczecin monuments aft er 1945 and possibilities of their realizationThe first professionals dealing with an inventory and protection of cultural monuments arrived in Szczecin in the second quarter of 1946. The group included Leopold Kusztelski (PhD), art historian, who became the Voivodeship Restorer of Monuments on 8 April. In 1953 the decision was made to get rid of war damage in the Old Town, and reconstruct only the most precious monuments, not maintaining the historical urban planning. It was also planned to widen the streets and erect modern residential buildings near the cathedral. The following monuments were included in the reconstruction plan: the medieval churches of St. Jacob the Apostle, of SS. Peter and Paul, of St. John the Evangelist, The Old Town Hall, the early modern palaces of Grumbkov and Velthusen, the Berlin and Royal Gates, the Panieńska tower, the castle of the Pomeranian Dukes, and tenement houses in Kusnierska street. Th e second stage of restoration activities took place at the beginning of the 1990s and it included the area of Podzamcze. It was to be conducted according to the concept which won the tender announced by the city in 1983, and which assumed the reconstruction of the historical network of streets and squares with a historical division of the area. The planned contemporary architecture was to refer to the 17th and 18th centuries, which was why the buildings were to have 3–4 storeys. Baroque tenement buildings, known for their iconographic materials, were also included in the reconstruction plan as the nearest surrounding of the monumental Town Hall. Serious restoration works embraced also the revitalization of the city centre, including 56 quarters with about 1000 tenement buildings from the end of the 19th century, situated on the area of 105 hectares. Another restoration activity consisted in considerable investments started in the years 2004–2006 owing to the funds of the European Union. They included the cathedral of St. Jacob the Apostle with the reconstruction of the spire to the height of 110 metres and the conversion of the tower into a scenic overlook, the renovation of the Church of St. John the Evangelist and buildings of the National Museum, the conversion of the abandoned tram depot in Niebuszewo into the Museum of Transport and Technology. The obligation to prepare the investment process and to define the new functions made the owners of the monuments prepare to give answers explaining not only how to restore the buildings, but also why the restoration of a given building was necessary or whether the suggested function would meet the needs of the public.