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Posted on July 26, 2020July 26, 2020


FOLK ARCHITECTURE GEMS IN THE POLISH-CZECH BORDER AREA

For many years we were observing the slow disappearance of wooden folk
architecture from the landscape. What was common and usual in the past, is on
the verge of extinction, nowadays. 




Crossig the Polish-Czech border area (Klodzko Land, Orlické Mountains and
Podorlicko) we can still find many folk buildings. Slightly different depending
on the area, they stand out, like rare flowers, with their unique features, like
steep roofs and crowned construction, and if we are lucky, we will also be able
to spot their influence on the neighboring (newer) buildings, in the form of
masonry walls.



Nowadays, these old houses are the subject of special care, especially in Czech
Republic. In many villages you can find interesting examples of folk buildings.
Habitants love these houses, by the way they they keep the original features,
all the way through meticulous preservation, paint (original) and gardening.



On the Polish side, it is worth to visit the Open Air Museum of Folk Culture of
Sudety Foothills in Kudowa-Zdrój which presents a few folk gems transferred from
Klodzko Land area (can you imagine the complexity of moving whole buildings
piece by piece?). If you want to see how it used to be in the countryside there,
we highly recommend you pay this place a visit.

Open Air Museum of Folk Culture of Sudety Foothills in Kudowa-Zdrój

Abandoned crowned construction house in Kudowa-Zdrój

Posted on May 31, 2020May 31, 2020


GEODETIC MARKS ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Geodetic mark located on the minaret of the mosque in Caesarea, Israel

Today, a few words about special metal details that we can find on historic
buildings (and not only). Survey benchmark is a permanently stabilized point of
geodetic network. They are used for geodetic measurements. In the past they used
to be placed on old buildings, like churches - the best were already stabilized
facilities that completed the settlement process. Many of these marks are so old
that already can be recognized as monuments. Some of them can still be used as a
part of contemporary geodetic network, some of them left only as historical
curiosity. These details are often forgotten when renovating historic buildings.
They are often thoughtlessly covered with paint but we should keep them and
expose as integral part of the buildings' history.

Location of historic geodetic mark on Wrocław cathedral

Geodetic marks - Płock cathedral and Wrocław cathedral

Sometimes we can also observe new local measurement points on historic
buildings, which are used to check whether a given object is moving, e.g. as a
result of construction works carried out nearby.

Contemporary geodetic mark on St. Adalbert's church in Wrocław

Posted on May 18, 2020May 18, 2020


HISTORY WRITTEN IN WOOD

We often do not realize how much information is hidden in old beams of historic
buildings. Going on a journey in the footsteps of former builders, we can learn
interesting things about the structure and its former repairs.



Carpentry joint in Siedlęcin Medieval Tower (Poland)



In historic constructions, joints of wooden elements were made without the use
of metal connectors. The elements were connected using carpentry joints,
reinforced with wooden pegs (depending on the type of connection). Only at a
later time, together with the increase in the span of the structure, began to
introduce metal connectors. In uncomplicated constructions as well as during
renovations and reconstructions, carpentry joints are used even today.





Crowned construction with a saddle notch corner

Traces of ancient carpenters can become a guide for the history of the building
for us, and old beams a source of knowledge about crafts and construction
techniques. On the surface ot the wooden elements we can find carpenters' marks
that simplified the assembly of the structure (they determined where in the
structure the given element should be). They were usually made with chalk or
pencil or cut with a sharp tool. The numbering was often Roman numerals or some
variation thereof. Based on this marks, it is possible to deduce in which order
individual parts of the structure were erected, as well as to determine which
elements are original and which were inserted during subsequent repairs and
renovations. Traces left on the surfaces of the processed elements of wooden
structures can give us information about the tools used - traseology deals with
the study of these traces.





Carpenter's mark on the roof structure from XVIII century



Carpenter's marks on the half-timbered structure form XIX century

It is worth to remember about carpenters' marks and take care of them during
renovation! If their removal is necessary, due to biological corrosion, it is
best to document them in advance.

Posted on May 11, 2020May 12, 2020


SZOMBIERKI POWER PLANT IN BYTOM (SILESIAN PROVINCE)

Szombierki Power Plant in 2014






Szombierki Power Plant in Bytom (Ger. Kraftwerk Oberschlesien) - this amazing
industrial building because of its monumentality, dark charm and not typical
beauty is very often called an industrial cathedral.










100 years has passed since the one of the biggest power plants in this part of
Europe was built. What a century it was! This amazing modernist structure was
opened in 1920 and designed by famous German architects Georg and Emil Zillmann.
 In the 1940s power plant was able to generate 100 MW. With some necessary
equipment improvements, it was working until 2011. Due to changes in the
technology, the structure stop being used in designed way and the dark times has
begun... They were some attempts to revive the object but not very successful.
In 2020 Szombierki Power Plant was placed on the list of Europe's 7 Most
Endangered Heritage Sites (http://7mostendangered.eu/).

















What to do with such a huge structure? It is definitely worth protection but it
is extremely difficult to find a new function. Maintenance of such a big
industrial building costs enormous amount of money. It was planned to create
here an educational, cultural, museum and entertainment center but for a few
years we cannot see any progress there...








We hope this industrial treasure will have a bright future.











Posted on May 2, 2020May 3, 2020


DUŠAN JURKOVIČ – THE POET OF WOOD



Jiráskova Chata in Dobrošov




Dušan Jurkovič  was a famous Slovak architect and ethnographer from the turn of
the 19th and 20th century. He was a creator of unique architecture style that
was strongly influenced by folk motives. Many of his works involved wood
creations - he is referred to be "the poet of the wood". He was creating objects
with great attention to detail and perfectly matching the landscape, like
mountain hostels, private villas, war graves units and many others.
















This versatile artist has created timeless architectural works that became
famous landmarks. You can find this masterpieces in the territory of Czech
Republic, Slovakia and also Poland.
















Our first meeting with Dušan Jurkovič architecture was in the Hradec Králové
Region, in the area located very close to the Polish border. In this mountainous
neighborhood you can find some of his fairy tale buildings.
















Definitely, worth visiting is a place called Peklo, located in a deep valley
("peklo" translates as "hell"). There is a former mill that Jurkovič rebuilt
into a restaurant for tourists in 1908-1910. A few kilometers from that place,
in Dobrošov village, you can find a lovely mountain hostel Jiráskova Chata built
in the years 1921-1924. It is a well known spatial dominant of the area. From
the top of the tower you can admire the surroundings.
















To be continued.
















And remember... Dušan Jurkovič is definitely worth a trip to Hell!














Restaurant for tourists in Peklo

Posted on April 25, 2020April 25, 2020


ŚLĘŻA MOUNTAIN (AKA SILESIAN OLIMP, HOLY MOUNTAIN)

This picturesque mountain is a well known landmark of Silesian region. You can
see it from Wrocław when a sky is clear -  it is a short drive from there. Its
unique cultural and natural values attracts a lot of tourists from that area.
Its siluette is recognasibinle, marked with TV and radio mast on top, elevating
above the surrounding plains. The mountain and its surrounding form the
protected area called Ślęża Landscape Park.  

 

Well known from centuries, as a place of prehistoric cult and place of pagan
solar worship (til early medieval times). It was believed then that the top of
this mountain is inhabited by gods, hence its common name - Silesian Olimp. 

  

Augustinians probably arrived around 1140 and they built a church and a
monastery at the very top of the mountain. The present church dates from the
mid-nineteenth century. 



On the top of the mountain there is  PTTK ( Polish Tourist and Sightseeing
Society) tourist Mountain hut.  


During a good weather  you can see the entire panorama of Lower Silesia.


Posted on April 18, 2020May 2, 2020


RAILWAY STATION IN OŁDRZYCHOWICE KŁODZKIE (LOWER SILESIA, KŁODZKO COUNTY)




Poland, home to numerous cultural monuments. Being the meeting point between
east and western Europe, it has been influenced by artists and architectures
from all over, enjoying unique and eclectic styled buildings. 


Unfortunately, due to political and economical reasons, many of those beautiful
monuments have been forgotten, and with them....the story of a nation.  


It is times like these that we must do the uncommon things, the
unpractical....the romantic. We must save them from falling apart. REMEMBER! So
our children, and their children, will be able to look back at the road that we
have taken. For what is life without memories?  


Our family have always been fascinated by trains. This magnificent invention
that has so much to do with human history. For better and sometimes for the
worst. 


Over the last century, many small and beautiful stations have been built across
the country, blending in the mountainous surrounding them and bringing people
together.  


We were lucky enough to be able to buy a crumbling station, moments before it
was too late.  



We would like to share with you the story and the renovation process.


For those of you who wish to take part in the project, please feel free to
contact. Help is always appreciated.  


Short history:  

Due to decline in the importance of railways in the 1990s and decrease in demand
for PKP S.A. (Polish State Railways) services many railway lines were closed.
Some of unused facilities were put up for sale by PKP nowadays.  


One of them is a small railway station of the Kłodzko–Stronie Śląskie railway
line,  located in Ołdrzychowice Kłodzkie (German: Ullersdorf). 

The location of the station in this mountainous area, the influence of
19th-century architectural trends referencing regional building traditions, and
the influence of the Art Nouveau style led to the creation of object of high
architectural value which perfectly matched the landscape.  


We have been able to stop the building from falling apart by strengthening the
structure and replacing the entire roof covering to prevent water damage.  


In the pictures below you will be able to see the beginning of the
transformation. With some luck and some help, we hope to have an open gallery
there one day:-)  


We hope you'll enjoy the pictures. 

If you have any questions regarding restoration, please feel free to contact
us.  


Until next time...



Posted on April 9, 2020April 12, 2020


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RECENT POSTS

 * Folk architecture gems in the Polish-Czech border area
 * Geodetic marks on historic buildings
 * History written in wood
 * Szombierki Power Plant in Bytom (Silesian Province)
 * Dušan Jurkovič – the Poet of Wood


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