Work is underway at the Nożyk Synagogue. The roof underwent a major renovation last year. Now the elevation will be refreshed. It is being cleaned and will be restored to its original colors. Work is also underway to repair the stucco details.
The Synagogue at 6 Twarda Street It is the only preserved and currently functioning pre-war Warsaw synagogue. It was built in the years 1898-1902 from the foundation of the married couple Rywka and Zalman Nożyk, who lived on nearby Próżna Street.
“In 1940, it was closed and devastated by the Nazis, and served as horse stables and a feed warehouse. After the Warsaw Ghetto was established, it regained its religious function until the liquidation of the so-called small ghetto in July 1942. The building survived the war, although it was devastated during the fighting in the Warsaw Uprising,” the city hall said in a statement.
After the war, the building underwent repairs. From 1951, it functioned as a synagogue until it was closed again in 1968. In the years 1977-1983, it underwent a thorough renovation, during which an annex was built on the eastern side, serving as an office. The work was carried out by the Warsaw branch of the Monument Conservation Studio under the supervision of Hanna Szczepanowska and Ewa Dziedzic. The synagogue has been operating again since 1983.
Return to original colors
The synagogue's elevations show numerous cracks and gaps. The plasters and architectural elements are also damp. “The first stage in halting the destructive processes was last year's replacement of sheet metal,” explained the city hall.
This year, the front elevation, which is the most decorated, will undergo renovation. The city has allocated a subsidy of PLN 370,000 for this purpose. As the city hall informed, this is almost half of the planned costs.
Conservators have already removed loose plaster and filled in the gaps. Work is underway to clean and repair the stucco details. Many elements will have to be made anew.
“Based on the findings, the original colour scheme was established, which turned out to be quite similar to the one chosen during the previous renovation. The flat surfaces of the wall will be maintained in a noble, warm colour with hints of ochre, while the detail will be slightly darker but with the same tone,” it was emphasised.
The works will also include the entrance stairs. They require complete demolition and will be structurally stabilized. In turn, the decorative metalwork elements and decorative roof elements made of galvanized sheet metal will undergo conservation in the workshop.
Main image source: Office of the Capital City Conservator of Monuments