THE HIGH MOUNTAIN METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY
A modernist icon suspended between sky and stone. Our work here required architectural precision, logistical creativity, and full respect for one of Poland’s most extreme and exceptional sites.
The High Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Kasprowy Wierch is an outstanding modernist facility dating back to 1938, designed by Warsaw architects Anna and Aleksander Kodelski from the interwar period. Situated on the Tatra ridge at an impressive 1,987 meters above sea level, it stands as the highest elevation record in Poland.
Our task involved devising a renovation project for the stone facades, replacement of roof structures, and steel structures for the measuring equipment.
The project had to address the necessity of continuous 24-hour work by observers regardless of construction activity (the facility has been in operation since 1939), extreme weather conditions including winds up to 260 km/h and daily temperature fluctuations of up to 20 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, we had to deal with the transport of materials and construction elements using train wagons with limited dimensions and weight capacity. These highly unusual challenges have spurred the development of our own workshop. The process of inventory drawing, design, and, most importantly, the coordination of construction work was incredibly demanding.
Therefore, we are extremely pleased with the successful realization!
TEAM: Piotr Knez, Maciej Kronenberg, Lucjan Piątek, Tomasz Zapała
CONSULTANTS: GSBK, SEQUENS, ZAPART PROJEKT
