At the end of July, a ceremony was held in Warsaw to lay the cornerstone for the construction of the "Chamber of Remembrance at the Warsaw Insurgents' Cemetery in Wola." This symbolizes the start of work on an exhibition and educational space that will commemorate the insurgents who fought for the freedom of the capital in 1944. The project has been pending since 2015.
On July 27, a unique ceremony was held in Warsaw, which at the same time is a symbol of the start of the "Chamber of Remembrance at the Warsaw Insurgents' Cemetery in Wola" project. The cornerstone for the construction of the Chamber of Remembrance was laid in the park next to the Warsaw Insurgents Cemetery in W ola, which was attended, among others, by Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, as well as Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, chairwoman of the Social Committee for the Warsaw Insurgents Cemetery and Honorary Citizen of the City of Warsaw. The Memorial Chamber is a unique project to commemorate the fate of Warsaw insurgents.
I wish all Varsovians to understand the value of the city in which they live and the value of this place. That this place be a signpost for the city and the world. No more war ," said Wanda Traczyk-Stawska during the stone laying ceremony.
Most of the victims buried here, in the barrow and mass graves, remain nameless. We want this place to be symbolic. This, among other reasons, is why we are building a Chamber of Remembrance, which will contain the names of more than 100,000 victims. But we must also remember those who still remain nameless ," added President Trzaskowski.
Rafal Trzaskowski and Wanda Traczyk-Stawska during the cornerstone laying ceremony
© UM Warsaw
The cornerstone, in the form of a tube into which insurgent armbands were inserted, was set into a section of the foundation bench of the Memorial Chamber.
Tube with insurgent bands
© UM Warsaw
memorial, exhibition and educational space
Recall that the design of the Memorial Chamber was selected through a competition in 2015, conducted by the City of Warsaw. The jury considered the concept by the team consisting of: Piotr Bujnowski, Karina Jędrak, Maciej Koczocik, Krzysztof Makowski and Martyna Rowicka.
The project assumes that the Chamber will be a complex consisting of several spaces. The main one is an exhibition and educational space, where there will be a permanent documentary exhibition on life in occupied Warsaw. The Memorial Chamber building will form several blocks - each dedicated to a different function - separated by massive walls. There will also be an entrance pavilion, serving as technical facilities for the main building. In addition, a "Wall of Remembrance" will be built near the main building, consisting of eight modules. Seven of them will feature plaques with the details of the victims, while the eighth - located near the entrance pavilion - will display information about the idea of the project commemorating the insurgents.
"Chamber of Remembrance at the Cemetery of Warsaw Insurgents in Wola" (visualization)
© Authors of the project
Exhibition and educational space
© Project authors
first works already done
Preparatory work for the construction was already done last year. Preparing the site required, among other things, cutting down 15 trees. New young trees were planted as compensation. As the authors of the project argue, its implementation will not interfere with other elements present in the area, such as the children's playground and outdoor gym. Interestingly, the work plan also does not include the construction of a parking lot. The memorial chamber will be accessible by public transportation.
Location of the Memorial Chamber
© UM Warsaw
In October 2020, Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski signed an agreement with the project's contractor. It is a consortium of MTM Budownictwo and PBO Slask. The realization of the investment is supervised by the Stołeczny Zarząd Rozbudowy Miasta (Capital City Development Authority).
According to the agreement, the Memorial Chamber is to be built in less than two years, by July 6, 2022. The cost of the investment is estimated at PLN 23,186,000.
elaborated.: Katarzyna Domagała
