"Toilet seat blocks" ("Sedesowce") are one of the icons of modern Wroclaw. This complex of six buildings (designed by Jadwiga Grabowska-Hawrylak) was built in the first half of the 1970s and aroused controversies already at the construction stage.
The general renovation of buildings at Pl. Grunwaldzki should have been carried out a long time ago. "Toilet seat blocks" have not been renovated at all; only repair works have been performed during the last 40 years. The lack of maintenance led to the devastation of façades," admits Marcin Miłosz, Vice-President of the new Management Board of the Piast Housing Co-operative.
The ferroconcrete parts of façades began to crack and fall off, and steel anchors on which concrete elements are mounted are seriously corroded. "Toilet seat blocks" are included in the list of historic buildings, so it was necessary to include guidelines of the municipal conservator of monuments in the building design.
During the renovation, all façade parts of buildings will be reinforced in the first place. At the 2nd stage of works, all ferroconcrete parts will be repaired. During the 3rd stage, tower blocks will be insulated with mineral wool and covered with structural plaster in the colour of white concrete, as recommended by the conservator of monuments. The author of the original design, Jadwiga Grabowska-Hawrylak, approved the colour of façades.
How much will the co-operative have to pay for the renovation of all "toilet seat blocks"? "For the time being, we prefer not to disclose the costs; we are waiting for bids. The deadline for the submission of bids is the 29th of January," says Marcin Miłosz. The beginning of renovation works is scheduled for the end of March and the beginning of April this year.
