Altus Palace topped out

15 października 2019

The former Leipziger Palace in Wrocław, future site of the 5-star Altus Palace, has been topped out. The building is undergoing a thorough restoration under the supervision of the Municipal Conservator of Monuments, in order to restore its former architectural splendour. The project investor is Torus, a commercial and office property developer from Gdańsk. The building is planned for completion by the end of 2020.

Today we symbolically top out the building. We have already completed a lot of the construction, but there is further work ahead. Due to its poor technical condition, the building required stabilizing of its structure and balancing its foundations. The main reason behind this project is to restore its architectural and historical value. By the beginning of December, we should be able to seal the roof and we will begin a series of conservation and restoration works. In the coming months, all installations and finishing works will begin.

Andrzej Palczak, Torus project manager

The building is of great historical value, containing numerous architectural details covering the Renaissance and Baroque styles. Among some of the features preserved are marbled stuccos, a staircase made of white Carrara marble, some antique woodwork, exotic inlay parquet floors and wood panelling. As a result of conservation works, about 5 millimetres of the paint coating has already been removed, revealing rich historical details. We have found stuccos in the passage hall, a large number of stone facade details and a stone bay window in the ballroom on the southern facade. The original Baroque ceiling built during the reconstruction of the building, which took place in the 1920s, was also discovered. All this will be available to see.

Former Leipziger palace

The building that will soon house a hotel was originally to feature three wings. It was built in 1872-1874 on the site of an old riding school by the Jewish banker, Ignatz Leipziger. The palace was designed by the renowned architect Karl Schmidt, famous for his work in Wrocław - including the reconstructed Wrocław Opera and the building on Wzgórze Partyzantów. A few years after construction, Leipziger sold the building to the local Kreisausschuss. Until 1945, the building was used for administrative tasks. After the war, it served as the office of Proxima.1, a geological company. In 2016, the building was bought by the current owner and investor, Torus, which set out to restore its former splendour and convert it to a five-star, modern hotel.

The new Altus Palace

The upcoming hotel will feature all the perks that come with the 5-star rating. It will contain 81 guest rooms, a subway in the cellar, a small conference room ad a tiny spa (spa bath, sauna and a steam bathroom). The hotel will be run by Dobry Hotel, a company that operates hotels in Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot, Poznań, Kraków, Zakopane, Mikołajki, and, more recently, on the Hel Peninsula in Jastarnia. It also has an established presence in Wrocław, running the Best Western Premier City Centre.

The basis of our expansion is our commitment to our guests. We want them to keep returning to our hotel network where they can feel at home. In recent years, we have noticed interesting trends among guests who are increasingly willing to choose the highest standard facilities for their next travel destination. Luxury these days is not just about possessing, but above all about experiencing. The Altus Palace Hotel will construct its identity precisely on the magic of this place and its history

Leszek Mięczkowski, Dobry Hotel Chairman of the Board

The building is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2020. It was designed by the renowned Wrocław designer, Archikon.

The building is extremely important to our city, being one of the outstanding works of the architect Karl Schmidt. The building has a very rich decor, which has survived despite repeated renovations. During our work we have repeatedly revealed various interesting elements - often surprised by the architectural richness. It is worth emphasizing the investor's huge commitment to carefully complementing and recreating this outdoor decor, in full cooperation with the conservation supervisor. I am sure that the result will be a high class building with a high architectural style

Anna Kościuk, Archikon project manager