Adaptation of Post-Industrial Buildings on Szwedzka Street in Warsaw’s Praga District.
The adaptation of post-industrial buildings on Szwedzka Street in Warsaw's Praga district is the newest achievement of Grupa 5. This project also marks the studio’s first large-scale revitalization effort, spanning 18 years between the start of design and the completion of construction. In 2007, following their victory in an international competition, the team began work on the comprehensive design for a multifunctional complex for a Catalonian developer. However, after work was halted in 2009 due to the global economic crisis, the historic complex fell into disrepair during the prolonged hiatus. Changing market conditions led a subsequent investor to revise the original program.
The pre-war buildings, once housing two major enterprises—Brüner Brothers Metal Products Factory, Hugo Schneider and R. Dietmar, and Praga Chemical Products Factory—were merged into a large cosmetics factory under Schicht-Lever Ltd. before World War II. These historic structures were reimagined as a mixed-use complex. The project intertwines office spaces and services with a dominant residential function, including unconventional lofts and soft lofts rarely seen in modern Warsaw.
New contemporary buildings were erected on the site of post-war Pollena Cosmetics Factory structures, which lacked historical value. These additions emphasized the historic industrial layout and harmonized in scale with the surrounding Praga tenement houses. The development features a recreational linear park for residents and a public passage with ground-floor services in both historic and new buildings, running parallel to Szwedzka Street. The architectural composition reflects the area’s industrial heritage while integrating seamlessly with the historic Praga neighborhood in scale, detail, and style.
The project aligns with the revitalization program for Praga-Północ, a district preserving the most historic architecture in Warsaw. This initiative helps safeguard the area’s unique urban fabric while contributing to its social and cultural renewal. The revitalized quarter has already significantly improved the image of Stara Praga, becoming the largest investment of its kind in this part of the city.
Design Details
The internal layout prioritizes pedestrian zones, green spaces, playgrounds, and public areas, eliminating private car traffic within the estate. Parking spaces are located in underground garages accessible from surrounding streets.
The interior design of the new buildings and shared spaces blends the site’s historical identity with modernity, reflecting its unique character.
Project Contributors
Master Plan, New Residential and Office Buildings, and Main Historical Building Adaptations: Grupa 5 Architekci
Adaptation of Boiler House, Glycerine House, and Glycerine Warehouse: SUD Architekt Polska/Kallan Architekci
Adaptation of Brewery and Chimney Building: Kallan Architekci
Structural Engineering: LGL, PKBI
Installations: ISK Michał Lewiński, Krzysztof Jerzykowski
Landscaping: TOPOSCAPE Justyna Dziedziejko, Magdalena Wnęk
Photography: Adam Grzesik, Marcin Czechowicz
The project was awarded a distinction in the “Unbuilt Projects” category for its original residential-service complex concept in the Polish edition of the 2017 Brick Award.