Gmach starostwa Krajowego Pomorskiego (tzw. Harmonijka) w toruniu projektu jerzego wierzbickiego – w świetle analiz historycznych i stylistycznych

Abstract

Starosto Krajowe Pomorskie building (aka Harmonica) in Toruń by Jerzy Wierzbicki – historical and stylistic analysis

The article consist of a historical and stylistic analysis, with additional focus on the conservation issues, of the former Starostwo Krajowe Pomorskie (S.K.P.) building in Toruń. Firstly a brief history of the spatial and architectural development of inter-war Toruń is described, giving context to the buildings creation. The next part gives a closer look on the building’s author, architect Jerzy Wierzbicki. This part is based on the architect’s memoirs, available as the original typescript, at the Nicolaus Copernicus University Library. After that, the history of the S.K.P. building is analysed, based again on the architect’s memoirs, inter-war articles and contemporary accounts. Later, a stylistic analysis is conducted, based on the well-established terminology by Andrzej Olszewski and on newly proposed ideas by Michał Pszczółkowski, underlining the ongoing change in the stylistic language. The last part is focused on renovation and conservation works that occurred to the building, indicating a need for further analysis of those interventions, for the sake of better understanding of the building’s history. The aim of the article is to stress the importance the S.K.P. building holds in the inter-war period of Toruń’s history, and the urgent need for it’s conservation. It also suggests further analysis of the changes that occurred to the building between 1945 and 2005, and more detailed study of Jerzy Wierzbicki’s life, as an important figure of the Polish architectural society.