Barely has the battle for the Jowita dormitory in Poznan been trumpeted as a success, and the battle to save the entire complex of academic buildings in the Winogrady district has begun. It used to be the center of student life in Poznan. Today, the coherent campus of dormitories from the 1950s is beginning to be destroyed. The conservationist intervenes. At the last minute, but nevertheless.
This was the first complex of dormitories erected in Poznan after the war. Seven student dormitories with cultural and catering facilities were built in 1956 on Dożynkowa Street in the Winogrady district, next to single-family housing, close to downtown. They quickly became an energetic center of student life. The well-known and respected student club Nurt, the award-winning theater of the same name, the Kosmos cinema, and the academic Radio Winogrady operated here. Until the end of the last century, the university campus meant a lot on the city's student map. In recent decades it has declined and partially abandoned, but its structure and building forms have been preserved.
The complex of student houses on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - blocks A and C, which have already been sold, are slated for demolition; blocks G and E are out of use; the others (Babilon, Devizka, Feniks) still serve as dormitories
source: openstreetmap.org
restrained socreal
Four-story houses covered with steep roofs were built in the style of frugal social realism in the quarter between Dożynkowa, Ozimina, Starowiejska and Barley Streets. Even the prominent building (block G) intended for cultural and integration purposes has a restrained form. What strikes the eye here is only the column-supported portico and the composition of the facade with noticeable high piano nobile windows. The dormitories are situated on a rectangular expansive plot so that they form the periphery of two grandiose green courtyards. Their form, height and location harmonize with the complex of multi-family buildings on the west side (on Zbożowa Street) built in the same period.
The complex of student houses on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - a view of one of the two courtyards of the campus; on the left, demolished block A, opposite DS "Dewizka", on the right - DS "Babilon"
Photo: Jakub Głaz
The four buildings that belong to the University of Life Sciences, however, have been unused for more than a decade (only one served longer, as a rehearsal space for the university's Łany folk ensemble). The remaining renovated houses still serve students. Two belong to the University of Economics (DS "Devizka" and "DS "Feniks"), and one (DS "Babylon") - to the Adam Mickiewicz University.
A complex of student houses on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - "Dewizka" - a functioning dormitory of the University of Economics, 9D Dożynkowa Street; visible mural "Students"
Photo: Jakub Głaz
The coherent and sensibly thought-out character of the place may be history, however. Wroclaw-based Vantage Development, which bought the two dormitories from the University of Life Sciences in 2020, received permission from the City to demolish them in the fall. The company also applied for development conditions, as there is no local zoning plan for the site. However, proceedings in this case were suspended at the request of the developer itself last summer. The developer began demolition in early January, a dozen days after - concerned about the activities at Dożynkowa - city councilwoman Halina Owsianna called for the entire development complex to be entered in the register of historic buildings.
The complex of student houses on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - a view of one of the two courtyards of the campus; on the left, demolished block A, opposite DS "Dewizka", on the right - DS "Babilon"
Photo: Jakub Głaz
activities for yesterday
After the demolition began, the city's historic preservation officer, alerted by councilors, halted the demolition for two weeks and referred the matter of registration to the provincial historic preservation officer. Hasty work on calling up an MPZP has also begun. Does the complex of socialist realist buildings really deserve protection? Why such a late move by preservationists, authorities and planners on their behalf?
The buildings themselves are not outstanding architecture, but their layout with extensive green courtyards is valuable (they need solid revaluation). The scale is also apt, providing a good "bridge" between the single-family developments on the south side and the big-box neighborhoods to the north. The academic function of the buildings and the history of student cultural life that goes with them are also valuable. Finally, although the buildings are not works of exceptional quality, they are an interesting legacy of 1950s Socialist Realist architecture - a testament to an approach to design that deserves to be preserved.
A complex of student houses on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - block A with a demolished corner, view from Starowiejska Street
Photo: Jakub Głaz
The delayed reaction of officials is most likely the result of the typical incoherent policy of Poznań magistrate's office in managing the city's space and the flawed communication between city units and departments. According to some Poznan media reports, employees of the MKZ Office were not supposed to find out about the demolition permit issued by the Department of Urban Planning and Architecture until December(other media report that the MKZ knew about the case and had no objections). Even the deputy mayor of Poznań, Bartosz Guss, apologized for the chaotic situation in a televised material about the dormitories. In the televised statement, however, he did not mention whether and how he intends to prevent such situations in the future.
Skyscrapers? anything is possible!
What will be built in place of the two devastated buildings if their demolition cannot be stopped? All that is known is that it is to be a multifamily development with underground garages. However, the developer does not disclose more detailed plans, and is considering "taking the administrative measures available to the investor" on the decision of the preservationist.
Finally, does the University of Life Sciences intend to sell the other two buildings as well? Such plans were in place until recently. But now Iwona Cieślik of UP has spoken to the media about the possibility of adapting the buildings for an assistant's house or for housing for doctoral students. However, this would involve very costly renovations. At the same time, she reports that the demand for space in student residences is currently met. Therefore, there are no plans for UP students to return to Dożynkowa. The statement comes as a bit of a surprise in view of the recent student protests against the liquidation of DS Jowita (owned by UAM), which we also described, and the demands made by young people for an increase in the number of affordable dormitory places.
A complex of student dormitories on Dożynkowa Street in Poznań - the defunct block G belonging to the University of Life Sciences with multifunctional rooms for cultural and integration purposes, view from Dożynkowa Street
photo: Jakub Głaz
The spokeswoman's announcement, however, gives hope that much of the original urban design will be saved. If UP were to sell these buildings to developers as well, the remaining dormitories of other universities would be sandwiched between two complexes of multi-family housing, and this would certainly give rise to future conflicts related to the different use of the space (noise, car access, etc.).
It is also unclear what scale of development the developer plans. This problem was pointed out, also on television, by Wojciech Krawczuk, president of the Poznań branch of SARP. Admittedly, the high point buildings of neighboring estates are quite far away, but the Poznań experience teaches that - unfortunately - nothing prevents them from being taken into account when determining the so-called good neighborhood. If the investor were given the opportunity to replace the low dormitories with high-rise buildings, the harmonious shape of the neighborhood would be destroyed.
