Royal standard in Warsaw
The Primate’s Palace combines the work of many generations of architects. It has undergone numerous general renovations over the centuries, dictated by turbulent historical turmoil, full of ups and downs. As a result, it combines the styles of baroque classicism and rococo. Currently, after thorough renovation and modernization, it serves the most demanding Warsaw guests as the luxury five-star Hotel Bellotto.
The building of the Primate's Palace is an indispensable element of the Warsaw Old Town, therefore its complete reconstruction after the September campaign in 1939 was a natural decision. Before the war, it served as the seat of many different organizations: the Warsaw Police Board, the War Government Commission, and even the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Reforms during the interwar period. Finally, it became a branch of the Civil Registry Office, serving many generations of Warsaw residents as beautiful scenery for getting married. Today, the Primate's Palace, or rather the Bellotto Hotel located in it, creates a luxurious refuge for tourists and guests of the capital city, where they can relax enjoying the beautiful view of Warsaw Old Town.
Luxury and elegance
The owner of this one of the most valuable historic residences in Warsaw is currently Zjednoczone Przedsiębiorstwa Rozrywkowe (Eng. United Entertainment Enterprises). On the initiative of this company, the Bellotto Hotel was established in the Primate's Palace, and alongside Marriott, Bristol and Sheraton hotels, is one of the 13 five-star hotels in the capital. It has luxurious interiors, suites and impeccable arrangement of space in which you can freely organize elegant banquets, meetings and conferences. 20 rooms and suites of the highest standard were prepared for guests, while eight palace halls and antique brick cellars were restored. What is more, the palace interiors serve as the scenery for films, commercials, TV series and music videos. There is the Miodowa Cafe in the left wing of Hotel Bellotto and Focaccia Ristorante in the right wing, offering Italian cuisine in a modern version. The conservator was watching over the renovation and refurbishment of the historic building. According to his recommendations, the interiors and façade of the building were adapted to the classical style of the palace using modern materials.
The Palace external showcase
In addition to the thorough restoration and rearrangement of the palace interiors, the façade and the roof of the residence were also refreshed. The renovation plan for the outer part of the Primate's Palace was prepared by the architect Małgorzata Cybulska-Marks, who, with attention to the smallest detail, designed the impressive façade that is delighting visitors today. The restored façade reflects the historical splendor of the palace, and – despite the use of modern finishing materials – it blends beautifully with the historic space of the Warsaw Old Town. It was extremely important to provide such roofing, which would refer to historical roof tiles with its aesthetics, but at the same time, would meet modern design and construction requirements. All these assumptions were met by the Bornholm ceramic tile by Röben, in a natural red color and a traditional "S-shape". This tile stands out with its relatively low weight, owing to which the roof structure is not overly loaded. In addition, it provides durability and resistance to adverse weather conditions – strong winds, heavy rains and severe frosts. The ceramic roof is also fireproof, which significantly affects the safety of hotel guests, and also provides very good sound insulation. The last feature is particularly important, due to the location of the hotel in the very center of the city, where the noise and hubbub is heard until late at night.
Comfort in the historical framework
In the case of hotel facilities, a lot of attention is paid to the comfort and safety of guests. That is why, in addition to a number of in-house conveniences, like elevators, spaces adapted to the disabled or a modern fire protection system – the highest quality finishing materials have been applied. The ceramic tile used during the renovation has an influence not only on the aesthetics of the building, but also significantly improves the safety of its use. In our climate zone, roofs are exposed to extremely different temperatures, anomalies and extreme weather conditions. The roof covered with Bornholm ceramic tiles by Röben is not susceptible to them due to the high resistance to thawing and freezing. The surface is also extremely tight, and possible gaps that may arise as a result of strong winds can be easily filled. The comprehensively revitalized building creates a comfortable asylum for the most demanding Warsaw guests, in which they can both relax and accomplish their professional goals. The well-thought out concept, implemented to the smallest detail, does not deteriorate the historical residence, but emphasizes its classic values. As a result, a luxury, modern, top-class facility was created, which will harmonize with the historic landscape of the Warsaw Old Town for decades.
