Copernicanum

Last updated
Copernicanum
Polish: Copernicanum w Bydgoszczy
Bdg Copernicanum nar 1 07-2013.jpg
View from street intersection
Copernicanum
General information
Type Gymnasium (school)
Architectural style Art Nouveau
ClassificationNr.601363, Reg. A/784 (May 5, 1992) [1]
Location1 Kopernika Street, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Coordinates 53°7′44″N18°00′45″E / 53.12889°N 18.01250°E / 53.12889; 18.01250
Groundbreaking1905
Completed1906
Client UKW in Bydgoszcz
Technical details
Floor count5
Design and construction
Architect(s)Carl Zaar & Rudolf Vahl

The Copernicanum is a historical building in downtown Bydgoszcz, which had been designed as a scholar building: initially a realschule, it then took the purpose of a city sciences high school and technical railway institutions. Registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List, it is nowadays the location of a junior high school.

Contents

Copernicanum, 1910 Copernicanum 1910.jpg
Copernicanum, 1910

In 1923, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus, the newly created junior high school adopted his name, Copernicanum. [2]

History

In the beginning of the 20th century, Prussian authorities of Bromberg decided to have a realschule built on the outskirts of then city downtown.

The commissioned architects, Carl Zaar and Rudolf Vahl, had just completed together in 1901 the Słupsk Town Hall in the nearby Prussian Province of Pomerania within the German Empire. Carl Zaar (Köln, 1849-Berlin 1924), was a pupil of architect Julius Carl Raschdorff, one of the leading German architects of the second half of the 19th century. He was a supporter of German historicism and designed the Berlin Cathedral. Rudolf Vahl had a construction engineer background and came from Berlin.

In the late 1910s, the wing onto Paderewskiego street has been rebuilt. The building housed the city realschule from its inception till October 15, 1921, when it housed the Polish Municipal High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (Polish : Miejskie Gimnazjum Męskie Matematyki i nauki przyrodnicze), then at Paderewskiego street. [3] The edifice housed in 1925, the Municipal Music Institute, newly established, and headed by the Poznań pianist Zygmunt Lisicki. [4] In the 1930s, it became a High school for boys, Polish : Miejskie Gimnazjum Męskie.

During Nazi occupation, the building served, among others, as a military hospital. After the war, the edifice housed vocational schools:

Since 2005, the Copernicanum building has been the property of Bydgoszcz University, or UKW Polish : Uniwersytet Kazimierza Wielkiego. Between 2005 and 2007, heavy restoration works, including upgrades to current standards, were performed over the facility, [7] allowing UKW to house the Institute of Mechanics and Applied Informatics, Polish : Instytut Mechaniki i Informatyki Stosowanej.

Architecture

Exteriors

The edifice has an L-shaped footprint boasting Art Nouveau style, registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List. Architectural details flourished on both facades of the building: pilasters, motifs, ornaments, festoons are everywhere to be seen.

Facade on Kopernika Street

The elevation of the facade on Kopernika Street displays two avant-corps on its extremities. The left one, bearing a large sundial, houses long and tall windows of the main hall. It is adorned on the top with owl shapes -symbol of knowledge- flanking a decorative stucco ribbon, crowned by the date of completion of the edifice (1906). The left avant-corps, although less majestic, is topped by a large round observation tower overhanging the mansard roofs.

The massive portal, flanked by pilasters, displays a curved transom ornamented with stucco ribbon motifs. On top of the transom light are visible Bydgoszcz and Poland coats of arm.

Facade on Paderewskiego Street

This frontage, albeit less decorated, offers more uniformity as far as architectural details are concerned. Facade shows high openings at each floor, topped by dormers with various shape: kernel, semi-circular with pediment or even grand ogee model. One can also make out some decorative rosettes.

Backyard

In the backyard of the building grow two large silver maples (330 and 430 cm diameter), identified as Natural landmarks of Bydgoszcz. [8]

Interiors

In addition of all the renovated class and experiment/technical rooms, a refurbished concert hall has been unveiled in 2010. Comprising a recording studio, it is at the disposal of the Institute of Music Education. The concert hall, originally an assembly room, still displays two preserved and restored large chandeliers and original floors. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BWA – Municipal Art Gallery of Bydgoszcz</span> Modern Art Gallery in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Municipal Art Gallery BWA is the largest and most important art gallery in Bydgoszcz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagiellońska Street, Bydgoszcz</span> Street in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Jagiellońska Street is a historic street in the centre of Bydgoszcz in Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernardyńska Street</span>

Bernardyńska Street is a street in Old Town district of Bydgoszcz, Poland. It bears many historical buildings, of which several are listed on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Heritage list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pomeranian Philharmonic</span> Orchestra in Bydgoszcz, Poland

The Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic has been at its present site in Bydgoszcz, Poland, since 16 November 1953. It bears the name of Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The Pomeranian Philharmonic is the musical center of Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship and also features an outdoor art gallery. It is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ossoliński Alley, Bydgoszcz</span>

Ossoliński Alley is a large dual carriageway road located in downtown Bydgoszcz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zygmunt Krasiński Street, Bydgoszcz</span> Street in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Zygmunt Krasiński Street or Krasińskiego Street is an avenue of Bydgoszcz, in downtown district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piotra Skargi Street, Bydgoszcz</span>

Piotra Skargi street is a historical street of downtown Bydgoszcz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikołaja Reja Street, Bydgoszcz</span>

Mikołaja Reja Street is a historical street of downtown Bydgoszcz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voivodeship and Municipal Public Library, Bydgoszcz</span> Library in Bydgoszcz, Poland

The Voivodeship and Municipal Public Library "Dr. Witold Bełza" in Bydgoszcz is housed in historical buildings located between the Stary Rynek and Długa street, registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List. It is the oldest (1903) library in activity in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Since 2002, it bears the name of Witold Bełza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kopernika Street, Bydgoszcz</span> Street in Poland

Kopernika street is located in central Bydgoszcz. Several buildings on Kopernika Street are registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List. The street is named for Nicolaus Copernicus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main building of Bydgoszcz Music Academy</span> Music school in Bydgoszcz, Poland

The main building of Bydgoszcz Music Academy is a historical edifice in downtown Bydgoszcz, dating back to the early 20th century. It is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feliks Nowowiejski Music Academy</span>

The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music is a Polish state music university located in downtown Bydgoszcz. Its origins date back to 1974, as branch of the Music College in Łódź until 1979. At that point it was established as independent Bydgoszcz State College of Music, consisting of four departments. The current name was adopted in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jezuicka Street, Bydgoszcz</span>

Jezuicka Street is a street located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of its buildings are either registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of Bydgoszcz local history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Przyrzecze Street, Bydgoszcz</span>

Przyrzecze street is a street located in the old town district of Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of its buildings are part of Bydgoszcz local history. Due to the proximity of the river, its townhouses represent a picturesque urban complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staszica and Paderewskiego Streets, Bydgoszcz</span>

Staszica and Paderewskiego streets are located in downtown district, in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of the buildings along this axis are either registered on the Kuyavian–Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of a historical ensemble of Eclectic and Art Nouveau architecture in Bydgoszcz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old water tower of Bydgoszcz</span> Historic water tower in Poland

The old water tower is a historic water tower belonging to the municipal water supply network of Bydgoszcz, Poland. Its importance in the local history has been acknowledged in 1986 by a registering on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Szwederowo district, Bydgoszcz</span> City district in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

Szwederowo is a district of the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland, located on its southern territory. Szwederowo population is the second largest of all Bydgoszcz districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminaryjna Street</span> Street in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Seminaryjna street is located between Wilczak, Błonie, Downtown districts in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Laid in the late 1870s, its winding path offer a view on the old town nested down in the Brda river. Many frontages and edifices display architectural and historic interests, one of them is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrzej Szwalbe</span> Polish lawyer, social and cultural activist

Andrzej Jan Szwalbe was a Polish lawyer, social and cultural activist and manager of the musical life in Bydgoszcz. He was the originator and creator of numerous artistic projects outside the region. In 1993, he has been designated as "Honorary Citizen of Bydgoszcz". He was awarded the highest state orders for his contribution to Polish culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefania Tuchołkowa</span> Polish writer and national activist. (1874-1924)

Stefania Tuchołkowa née Zaleska (1874-1924) was a Polish journalist, writer and national activist.

References

  1. ↑ POWIATOWY PROGRAM OPIEKI NAD ZABYTKAMI POWIATU BYDGOSKIEGO NA LATA 2013-2016. Bydgoszcz: Kujawsko-pomorskie. 1 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 emi (16 February 2010). "Aula Copernicanum gotowa na koncerty". bydgoszcz.wyborcza.pl. bydgoszcz.wyborcza. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "Władze, Instytucje i Urzędy Państowe". Adresy Miasta Bydgoszczy na rok 1922. Bydgoszcz: Leon Posłuszny. 1922. p. 26.
  4. ↑ Bloch, Maria (1996). Mali muzycy bydgoscy i dzieje ich szkoły. Kalendarz Bydgoski. Bydgoszcz: Towarzystwo Miłośników Miasta Bydgoszczy. pp. 266–269.
  5. ↑ "Copernicanum". urbanity.pl. 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  6. ↑ st (16 August 2010). "Copernicanum". pomorska.pl. Gazeta Pomorska. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  7. ↑ Sitarek, Michał (30 July 2007). "Copernicanum wizytówką dzielnicy". expressbydgoski.pl. Polska Press Sp. z o.o. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Program Ochrony Środowiska dla miasta Bydgoszczy na lata 2013-2016 (PDF). Bydgoszcz: Miasta Bydgoszczy. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2016-12-05.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.