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Description
The project concerns the conversion and interior design of the Palace of the Commonwealth for the needs of the National Library''s cultural and educational activities, including exhibition ones.
Mandatory infrastructure actions:
The scope of the Project includes the following tasks:
• of the construction sector: restoration works of walls, doors, stucco works, construction works of the installation of suspended ceilings, construction of new door frames in the basement premises, restoration and conservation works of floors in rooms, in including the Wilanowska Hall and the Caryatids Hall;
• of the electrical sector: installation of switchgears, dismantling, installation of cabling, lighting installation, installation of sockets and power, installation of cable routes;
• of the teletechnical sector: dismantling, delivery of assembly and commissioning of the Fire Signalling System Installation, Structural Network Installation and WLAN, Intrusion and Assault Signalling System, Access Control System, Closed circuit television (CCTV), Integration system of the Security Management System (SMS);
• of the sanitary sector: installation of basin faucets, installation of a heat pump for domestic hot water purposes, installation of a water mist installation.
Mandatory soft actions:
2) Cultural and educational offer;
3) Trainings related to the scope of the Project:
4)Project management;
5) Promotion of the project.
The final beneficiaries of the project''s offer will be:
• Tourists
• Children and school youth
• Foreign residents
• Academic community
• Local organizations, artistic, literary and librarian environments, informal creative initiatives.
The facility will be fully accessible to people with special needs. Audioguides and tactile graphics will give the opportunity to participate in the offer for people with visual impairment.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to improve the functional and usable space of the Palace, to restore the building to its former splendour, to provide access to unique collections of historical and cultural heritage and to promote the socio-cultural role of the inhabitants of Warsaw, Mazovia, as well as that of those from other regions of Poland and abroad visiting the capital.
The refurbishment and interior redesign of the Palace of the Commonwealth will make it possible to:
- provide access to the building and the most important collections of the National Library of Poland that are currently not availble to the users,
- create optimal opportunities for the main function of the facility so as to meet the needs and expectations of social groups from all backgrounds and of all ages and experiences,
- adapt the Palace to the requirements of modern technologies and standards of cultural institutions so that it my become an important space for socio-cultural life and a distinctive tourist attraction in Warsaw,
- create an interactive exhibition space presenting the unique collections of the National Library of Poland (displays of historic objects, temporary themed exhibitions; presentation of the history of the National Library of Poland, the Palace of the Commonwealth, books and printing, European literary heritage, as well as historical and contemporary reading habits),
- create an open, multi-generational space for education and information that is suitable to host educational activities and workshops for children, school students, adults and senior citizens,
- create, in close cooperation with the inhabitants of Warsaw, a new, rich cultural and educational offer at the Palace of the Commonwealth that will engage the local community across all age categories.
The construction work as part of the project involved the comprehensive renovation of the Palace''s interiors and adapting them to new functions. All sculptural elements and stuccoes were restored. Wall plaster repairs were carried out, including reinforcement of the walls. Floors and parquet were restored, or replaced with new ones where necessary. The historic chandeliers were renovated, and modern lighting systems were installed throughout the building, with appropriate installations prepared for exhibition space arrangements. The basements were redesigned to accommodate planned activities.
Permanent fixtures were purchased and installed, including modern, collection-safe display cases, information and multimedia systems, as well as furniture and equipment.
The project also included a cultural program related to the activities of the National Library, with 181 events held and a training program consisting of 24 courses attended by 284 people.
Thanks to the reconstruction and new interior design, the Palace of the Commonwealth was made accessible to visitors, along with the most valuable collections of the National Library. The functional solutions of the building are tailored to meet the expectations of all social groups from various backgrounds, different age groups, and diverse experiences. After the renovation, the Palace of the Commonwealth meets the requirements of modern technologies and cultural institution standards. As a result of the project, the Palace has become an important space for social and cultural life and a unique tourist attraction on the map of Warsaw. The interactive exhibition space showcasing the unique collections of the National Library (exhibiting historical objects, temporary thematic exhibitions, presenting the history of the National Library, the Palace of the Commonwealth, books and printing, European literary heritage, as well as historical and contemporary reading practices) and the open, intergenerational education and information space are designed for educational activities and workshops for children, school youth, adults, and seniors. A new, rich cultural and educational offer created in collaboration with the residents of Warsaw, available at the Palace of the Commonwealth, activates the local community across all age groups. The audio guide system helps visitors gain detailed information about the building and exhibits as part of the tour, including in English and for people with special needs.
The project has contributed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with donor countries through collaboration with cultural institutions from donor countries, such as the Bergen Public Library, the project partner.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner of the National Library in the project titled "Modernization and Interior Arrangement of the Krasiński Palace (Palace of the Commonwealth) at 3/5 Krasiński Square in Warsaw" was the Bergen Public Library.As part of the collaboration, ten online meetings and one in-person visit by representatives of the Bergen Public Library took place between August 2021 and April 2024, during the modernization work at the Palace of the Commonwealth.During these meetings, the partners exchanged experiences in cultural activities related to the work of both institutions.Meeting Topics:•Presentation of the project scope, introduction of project participants, and discussion of potential areas of cooperation•How to communicate with the local community?•How to create and promote cultural programs for children?•How to collaborate with non-governmental organizations?•Social media as a platform for engaging young cultural audiences•Cooperation with national minorities•Project summary and discussion of the partnershipBefore this project, the National Library had not conducted this type of cultural activity. Therefore, the experience of the Bergen Public Library helped it better prepare for engaging with a broader audience. On the other hand, the Bergen Public Library had not previously undertaken a modernization of a historic building on such a scale, including a complete transformation of its function.The mutual exchange of knowledge and experience allowed both institutions to gain a broader perspective on organizing and managing cultural activities.