Warsaw Vodka Factory "Koneser"

The Warszawska Wytwórnia Wódek " Koneser " ( vodka factory " Koneser " ) in Warsaw is located in the east of the Vistula, the suburb of Praga Polnoc at ul Ząbkowska. The neo-Gothic factory facility was built at the end of the 19th century and housed until recently one of the largest vodka producer in Poland. Today, the Grade II listed and renovate facility is a center alternatively - cultural life in the district and should be redesigned as part of a fundamental redesign into a residential and office complex.

History

In 1867 started the construction of a vodka factory which replaced an existing on this site since the late 18th century cottage Bazaar. Recent construction activities were completed in 1897. At the turn of the century the surrounding village Szmulowizna was a district of Warsaw. The factory Rektyfikacja Warszawska na Pradze ( in German: Warschauer rectification in Prague ) was a Polish- Russian Warszawskiego Towarzystwa Oczyszczania i SPRZEDAZY Spirytusu ( in German: Warsaw Society for purification and sale of spirits ), which already operated a distillery in Powiśle, a cooperation between the Rektyfikacja Warszawska and the tsarist - Russian State Treasury.

The plant, which covered an area of ​​50,000 square meters between the streets Ząbkowska, Markowska, Białostocka and Nieporęcka, was one of the largest distilleries in the former Russian Empire. Its founders had in relation to the permitting authorities are required to produce one million buckets of spirits per year. Your largest emitter reached the factory between the wars. In the First World War as after Państwowy monopoly Spirytusowy - Rektyfikacja Spirytusu i Wytwórnia Wódek renamed plant about 400 people worked. In addition to the internationally known brands, " Wyborowa " (since 1927) and " Luksusowa " (since 1928) were vodka brand " Żubrówka ", " Żytniówka ", " Wystawowa ", " Przepalanka ", " Chlebowa ", " Świtezianka ", " Redlówka " " produced Siwucha "and" Stárka ".

In the work one of the first Warsaw drinking water well was bored, which reaches 260 meters in depth water from the Oligocene. After the retreating Russian troops had blown up the bridge together with the Kierbedzia there running water supply pipes for Praga in 1915, not just the vodka production but also surrounding residential areas were supplied from the source. Even today, the source can be used for private drinking water supplies.

In 1918, in one of the buildings was set up (at the Markowska Street) a coin and medal production. In the 1930s, were in the basement rooms of the factory the vaults of Funduszu Obrony Narodowej ( in German: National Defense Fund). From 1938 the plant operated under the name Polski Przemysł Wódczany Sp Akc. Rektyfikacja Warszawska ( in German: Polish vodka industry SA, rectification Warsaw). During the German occupation of the factory was renamed as drinking brandy and brandy cleaning plant Warsaw. Since 1947 it belonged to the Polmos group.

After the work was increasingly unprofitable in the 2000s, people began to use vacant land for cultural events. Galleries and theaters settled here. In 2009, the alcohol production was stopped.

Use Today

In the former factories, the Theater " Wytwórnia " ( which also exhibits and video art are presented ), and the galleries " Luksfera " is ( art photography ), " Galeria Klimy Bocheńskiej " (modern art ), " Magazyn Praga " (designer Concept Store ). Recently, there is an extensive bookseller, in which fairs are held for antiquarian books.

Until the completion of the new museum seat at Ulica Targowa are offices and exhibition area of the Museum of Warsaw - Praga in areas of the factory.

In two halls house exhibits of the engine and technology museum Otrębusy. Here are issued to persons and trucks as well as consumer electronics. The plants are often used for festivals and music festivals.

Planned renovation

As part of the renovation of the complex is a development project of BBI Development Company and Juvenes project is operated. The plans are designed to provide maintenance and expansion of existing building next to the building of additional residential and office buildings.

Company " Koneser "

The future of the company " Koneser " is unclear. The over-indebted and distributors in insolvency company produces today elsewhere, still employs around 100 people and operates a chain of 20 liquor outlets in the Masovian Voivodeship.

Architecture

The factory complex is an example of Central European industrial architecture of the late 19th century. The buildings are made of red brick bricked with hints of gothic / medieval design structures. The entrance is flanked by a castle-like building.

Renovation work on the extended gate building

View of the old Rektifikationsgebäude

Today used as a GSM radio mast