Cepelia on Marszałkowska Street – the history of a Warsaw icon of modernism and its reopening

DO GÓRY

Right in the heart of Warsaw, at the junction of Marszałkowska Street and Aleje Jerozolimskie, stands a building that for decades was one of the most recognisable symbols of post-war modernism. The Cepelia Pavilion, built in 1966, was more than just a commercial building – it embodied a new way of thinking about urban architecture: light, transparent and open to public space. Today, following a comprehensive renovation completed in 2024, it has returned in a new role as an Empik store. The essence of this transformation, however, was not a change of function, but the restoration of the character that had defined the uniqueness of this place for years. Modern aluminium solutions from Aluprof helped to preserve everything that is most important about this building.

The pavilion that became an icon of modernism

Zygmunt Stępiński’s design stood out from the surrounding buildings from the very beginning. The dominant feature was the glazed façade, which gave the structure a sense of visual lightness and opened the interior up to the urban space. In the 1960s, this was a clear signal of change – a move away from closed, heavy forms towards a more transparent and accessible architecture. The details also played a significant role: turquoise ceramic tiles and geometric decorations designed by Stanisław Kucharski. It was precisely these carefully designed proportions, the rhythm of the divisions and the combination of materials that determined the building’s unique character.

The decision to preserve and responsibility for the form

In the years that followed, the pavilion lost its significance and its future remained uncertain. Among the concepts under consideration were also plans for its demolition. Ultimately, the developer – SIENNA 111 – decided to preserve the building and fully modernise it. The design was the work of the AMC – Andrzej M. Chołdzyński studio, whilst Bernatek Architekci were responsible for the execution and the building’s final appearance. One thing was clear from the outset: the aim was not to create a new interpretation of Cepelia, but to recreate its modernist character as faithfully as possible.

Renovation as a matter of proportion and detail

In the case of late modernist architecture, the elements that are often invisible at first glance are of the greatest importance:

the width of profiles,
the divisions of the façade,
the relationship between glass and structure,
the way vertical and horizontal lines are drawn.

It is these elements that determine whether the restored building truly retains the character of the original, which is why the renovation of the Cepelia pavilion was largely a matter of precision. And it is here that aluminium joinery played a key role.

Aluprof solutions as one of the key elements of the project

In a renovation such as Cepelia’s, elements that often remain in the background but in practice determine the perception of the entire architecture are of immense importance. One of these is aluminium solutions – they are responsible for whether the building’s façade retains its proportions, lightness and rhythm of divisions.

The following Aluprof solutions were used in the pavilion:

the MB‑SR50N HI+ mullion-transom façade,
MB‑79N and MB‑86N windows and doors,
fire protection systems MB‑86 EI.

However, their role in this project goes beyond mere technical parameters. It is partly thanks to them that it was possible to preserve the character of the building whilst adapting it to contemporary requirements.

The Aluprof solutions used made it possible, amongst other things, to:

recreating the slender, modernist divisions of the façade without visually thickening them,
creating large glazed areas whilst maintaining the structural stability of the building,
preserving the light, transparent character of the façade,
combining historical aesthetics with today’s requirements for airtightness, thermal insulation and safety.

As a result, the entire project was successfully translated into a coherent realisation, in which modern technology supports, rather than disrupts, the original character of the architecture.

A new function integrated into the existing architecture

Upon completion of the works, the pavilion took on a new function as Empik’s flagship store. In addition to the retail space, reading areas and venues for author meet-and-greets have been introduced. Crucially, the new function has not overpowered the architecture. Thanks to the preservation of the open, glazed form, the interior remains strongly connected to the urban space – exactly as envisaged in the original design.

A regeneration project that demonstrates the role of technology in preserving architecture

The example of Cepelia clearly shows that the renovation of modernist buildings is not solely about preserving the building’s form. It is crucial to preserve what is more difficult to capture: proportions, rhythm and a sense of lightness. In such projects, aluminium windows, doors and façades cease to be merely technical elements. They become a tool for the precise recreation of architecture.

Thanks to the use of Aluprof products, it was possible to combine two seemingly contradictory objectives:

faithfully recreating the form of the 1960s,
and adapting the building to contemporary standards of use and safety.

It is precisely this approach that ensures Cepelia returns to the city not as a reconstruction, but as an authentic building that retains its identity and is ready for decades of further use.