Emilia Meble pavilon landmark classification should have been expected – Warsaw architects

A surprising, last’ minute decision to classify the Warsaw CBD based Emilia Meble pavilon, as a landmark may have sent shockwaves through Poland’s real estate community, but it should have been expected, Warsaw architects tell CEEInsight.

“Emilia is a brilliant example of modernist architecture,” Warsaw architect Janek Dowgiallo told CEEInsight. “It fits perfectly into its urban location and I’m not at all surprised that it was added to the landmark register.”

International developer Griffin Investments called the affair a scandal when it discovered that Emilia was added to the landmark register just hours after the company transferred PLN 115 mln (USD 36 mln) to the Polish Treasury and become sole owner of the property.

According to international media sources, the developer intends to build an office block for some EUR 130 mln on the site. Griffin claims that it was not notified by the city that it had launched proceedings to make the pavilion a landmark.

“We had rudimentary information that led us to think that the pavilion could be dismantled,” Przemyslaw Krych from Griffin Investments said, according to internet daily Gazeta.pl.

Despite the developer’s plans it seems that the investment was always destined to face an uphill struggle.

Emilia stands in front of a residential highrise. A skyscraper would completely block out any sunlight for highrise residents, something that would likely draw protest, thus possibly halting the whole investment. Griffin could of course try to buy out the occupants of the flats, but such a process is likely to take years and may not be successful.

In late October the company announced that it will be challenging the regulation covering the classification of landmarks before the Polish Justice Tribunal. According to the developer it is not consistent with the law.