Before revitalisation
The building of the Stara Łaźnia in Zawiercie was erected in the first decade of the 20th century on the initiative of the „Zawiercie” Joint-Stock Society as an integral part of the workers’ housing estate built next to the cotton spinning mill. The building is part of a historic estate, whose urban layout with a regular composition is based on a grid of three streets: Bohaterów Westerplatte, Mieczysława Niedziałkowskiego and Franciszka Szymański. The estate was built in two stages: in 1880-1887 and 1895-1910.
The bathhouse building was constructed in neo-Gothic style to a design by Hugo Kudera, with financial support from the workers. Construction costs were estimated at 12,000 roubles. The building became a municipal bathhouse and served its original function until the end of the Second World War. Later it was, among other things, the seat of a funeral parlor and a notary’s office.
After revitalisation
The modernisation of the building cost PLN 3,800,000. Funding in the amount of PLN 2,724,000 was obtained for this purpose, from the so-called ZIT (Integrated Territorial Investment). The municipality also received over PLN 300 thousand from the state budget. As part of the construction works, work was carried out on the renovation and restoration of all facades of the building, including the roof structure. The works did not omit the interior either.
From 1 September 2020. Stara Łaźnia Gallery in Zawiercie has been officially opened to the public, and visiting is free of charge. It is a unique place on the map of the region. Visitors can see, among other things, the works of the late Leszek Dutka, an outstanding artist and Honorary Citizen of Zawiercie, as well as glass from the glassworks in Zawiercie. The Stara Łaźnia Gallery in Zawiercie exhibits contemporary art – paintings, drawings, graphics, sculpture, functional glass, ceramics, as well as artistic and reportage photography. The gallery has also managed to save exhibits from the Zawiercie glassworks.
