Not long ago it was falling into ruin, and today it delights with its details and a new function. The historic narrow-gauge railway station in Grójec, at ul. Przedstacyjna, has undergone a spectacular metamorphosis – from a forgotten building it has become a symbol of a new openness to local history. The modernisation covered not only a thorough renovation of the structure and restoration of the facade, but also the creation of a cultural and social space for a future cultural centre and a local museum. The total value of the investment exceeded PLN 5.5 million, of which PLN 3 million came from co-financing from the budget of the Mazovia Voivodeship self-government.
The station, once the heart of the region's narrow-gauge railway, waited for years for renovation. Damaged and rotting walls, a leaking roof and a lack of basic infrastructure made the place inaccessible to residents and almost completely forgotten. Thanks to the local authorities' decision to revitalise it and the actions taken by Grupa KDM – the general contractor of the investment – the station gained a real chance of coming back to life. The renovation covered the entire structure of the building, the water tower, which revealed a damaged water installation, the conservation of the historic turntable and the development of the plot for recreational functions. The window and door joinery also required reconstruction. A further challenge for the contractor was deepening the basement because of the high groundwater level.
The restored building will become a cultural centre with space for artistic events and exhibitions. As the Mayor of Grójec said, the city authorities want to arrange the new space as a modest museum of the narrow-gauge railway and a regional apple museum. The proposed name is to refer to this – current considerations have included, among others, the “Apple Stop” or the “Grójec Apple Museum”.
– We are proud of the opportunity to preserve a piece of history and local culture through the renovation of the station in Grójec – stresses Dominik Działak, President of the Management Board of Grupa KDM – It is a project that combines tradition with the future, and for us it was not only an engineering challenge, but also a major commitment to the local community.
This project required our team to work closely with the Voivodeship Monument Conservator. Every action had to comply with cultural heritage protection guidelines. The works were carried out with the greatest care, so as to preserve the unique character and historical value of the place while adapting it to the current needs of residents. In addition, the layout of the rooms was required to be preserved. The stationmaster's room, the ticket office and the waiting room were renovated but kept in unchanged form. Among the items to be recovered were the historic tiles on the stairs, to be re-installed on the landings, and the historic doors, which were in turn dismantled, restored and re-installed.
The last train arrived at the Grójec station in 1995. So when will the space be reopened to residents? The contractor's deadline for handing over the historic station for use is May of this year, but earlier handover of the building to the local community is anticipated. Until then, we encourage you to see the interior of the new cultural venue in our gallery.
