The reconstruction of the western wing of Piłsudskiego Square, including the Saxon Palace, the Brühl Palace, and adjacent buildings, has entered a critical phase of project planning and administrative preparations. The project aims to restore the 18th-century Baroque complex, with completion targeted by the end of the decade.
Project Planning and Administrative Preparations
After four years since the adoption of a special law, the government has initiated a critical stage of the reconstruction of the western wing of Piłsudskiego Square: the Saxon Palace, the Brühl Palace, and buildings on Królewskiej Street. On August 25, the Saxon Palace Company commenced formal negotiations with WXCA Office regarding the architectural design contract, while the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage announced a “new opening” and accelerated works.
Legal Framework and Key Milestones
The Saxon Palace Company invited WXCA Group to negotiate the design contract for the entire development complex, including the Saxon Palace, the Brühl Palace, and buildings at Królewskiej 6, 8, and 10/12. The company confirmed the project received a positive opinion from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and approval from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. According to “Architektura-murator,” the contract signing is planned for the late October to early November period.
Timeline for Key Stages
According to official communications and announcements, 2025 will see the completion of the construction design and building permit; 2026 is projected for finalizing design work, selecting a general contractor, and starting construction; and full construction is expected to end by 2029, with the facilities to be handed over by 2030. These dates align with both public media and industry press reports.
Public Utility and Consultations
Minister of Culture Marta Cienkowska emphasized the project’s public utility, stating, “We want the Palace to serve the public – for Poles, Polish women, and tourists.” The Ministry has announced consultations to determine the final use of the buildings. Previously, options included space for the Senate of the Republic of Poland and the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Office, including a plenary hall within the Brühl Palace.
Historical Context
The current Piłsudskiego Square and its western wing were developed as part of the Baroque Saxon Axis, established in 1713 at the order of August II. This involved expanding the former Morsztyn Palace into a royal residence and creating the Saxon Garden. The Saxon Palace has served various roles over time, such as hosting the Warsaw Lyceum (1804–1817), a Russian military district headquarters in the 19th century, and during the Second Polish Republic, the General Staff of the Polish Army and the Cipher Bureau. On November 2, 1925, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was unveiled under the palace’s colonnade. Both the Saxon Palace and the nearby Brühl Palace – the latter originally a residence of Jerzy Ossoliński (1639–1642) and the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the Second Polish Republic – were destroyed by Germans in late 1944. After the war, only the arched section of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier survived, remaining one of Poland’s most significant national symbols.
Estimated Cost and Budget Allocation
According to the law’s justification and earlier statements, the project’s estimated cost is approximately 2.4–2.5 billion zł over the decade. The final amount will depend on design solutions and the outcome of the general contractor tender. Supporting documents outline the budget distribution for the years 2021–2030. From 2021 to 2024, preparatory work included organizing and conducting the competition, conceptual studies, and educational/information campaigns about the investment, which the company summarised in its 2024 annual report.
Next Steps
Negotiations with WXCA are expected to lead to the signing of the design contract in the fall. Subsequently, the investor will move to the construction design phase, administrative procedures, and the tender for constructors. As per the Ministry of Culture’s announcement, the results of consultations on the buildings’ final use will be presented at the start of next year.
Source: MiejskiReporter, – Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland, – WXCA Office, – Company Reports and Communications (Saxon Palace Company Sp. z o.o.), – Industry press “Architektura-murator”, – Historical records of the Saxon Axis and Piłsudskiego Square development
