Post-war reconstruction of Elbląg

[RS_UK-PL]

Before WW2


Now

[Mr. America]

Originally Posted by RS_UK-PL

Not many people might know this, but Elblag was more populous city than Torun from 16th Century until 1939. Also, it was second largest port after Gdansk (for a short period of time, the largest) in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

First of all, Elbląg was second largest city of East Prussia, after Koenigsberg. Even now, it is fourth largest city of this region (after Kaliningrad, Olsztyn and Klaipėda), but of course, it's not what it used to be before WWII. But for me, the most pity is that Olsztyn, not Elbląg, is now bigger, and became the capital of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.

[RS_UK-PL]

Only 9 tenement houses have been rebuilt very shortly after the war (see photos below).

[RS_UK-PL]

[RS_UK-PL]

Before WW2


Now

[RS_UK-PL]

Post Office (Poczta)

Before WW2


Now

[Mr. America]

Originally Posted by RS_UK-PL

Before WW2

What a pity. It was really nice building

[Mr. America]

Actually, this buildings look very nice:

Originally Posted by spox38

But I have no idea, what were there before the war.

[RS_UK-PL]

Before WW2


Now

[RS_UK-PL]

Originally Posted by Mr. America

Actually, this buildings look very nice:
But I have no idea, what were there before the war.

Before WW2


Now

[RS_UK-PL]

Before WW2


Now

[RS_UK-PL]

Before WW2


Soon

[zbys1968]

RS UK-PL podstawiłeś nie właściwe foto do ostatnich dwóch wejść

[mike016]

Del

[RS_UK-PL]

Sorry guys, my mistake. Won't happen again

[mike016]

The most saddest examples of the WW2 damage in the Old Town:

Rybacka street with water gate:



Now:



One of the most beautiful places in pre-WW Elbląg, you can see another water gate and the Camel house on the right (no trace left - eaven after the street itself!):



Same view today:




Mostowa street with gothic houses:



Today:



Studzienna street with unique gothic "Querhaus":



Today:



Ferry wharf (you can see the tramways on the left):



Nowadays, same view:




Wodna street:



Today:




Wodna street - same spot, but in other direction:



Same view today:




Kuśnierska street with old convent buildings:



Now:




Convent gate and the old half-timbered convent buildings:



Today (only the gate left):

[Mr. America]

Is this gate going to be reconstructed in the future?

[mike016]

a hard question.
It depends on the design guidelines of the new waterfront in future, which are unclear yet. Now it's clear, that someday the waterfront will rise, and so far that's a good news. I would prefer reconstruction of course, but who knows what they'll invent...
I must add here, that this gate was already reconstructed once (or actually redesigned in barock manner) in 1920's to fit into the Bednarska-street scenery. That's probably the one and only example of conservation and preservation in pre-war Elbing (on the background of mass destruction and lack of respect for monuments in that period).

[RS_UK-PL]

Originally Posted by mike016

a hard question.
It depends on the design guidelines of the new waterfront in future, which are unclear yet. Now it's clear, that someday the waterfront will rise, and so far that's a good news. I would prefer reconstruction of course, but who knows what they'll invent...
I must add here, that this gate was already reconstructed once (or actually redesigned in barock manner) in 1920's to fit into the Bednarska-street scenery. That's probably the one and only example of conservation and preservation in pre-war Elbing (on the background of mass destruction and lack of respect for monuments in that period).

I read a lot of your posts regarding pre-war Elbing and what really surprised me is just how many buildings have been simplified in 19th-20th Century (decorations and carvings have been removed from most of tenement houses). Could you tell me what was the reason behind this?

Also, do you believe that such methods of the Old Town reconstruction (like in Elblag, I mean post-modern architecture) can recover the pre-war atmosphere and charm? I'm just wondering if Elblag will ever have a chance to compete with Gdansk and Torun Old Towns?

[gwozdz]

I think it's impossible to compete with Gdańsk or Toruń. Our Old Town is rebuilded, not reconstructed and this process started only 20 years ago. We should care about making this district a place for entertainment and culture, that tourists could say "You have a great place here, I like it"