Impressive renovation, combined with historical preservation: the Betonhaus Poznań
At the historic Betonhaus in the Polish city of Poznań, a very large concrete wall needed to be replaced with an open glass sliding door system to give the building more transparency and openness. GEZE was the only company willing to take on this exciting project and ensured its successful completion with customised special solutions and services.
Between history and modernity: conversion of a historic building
Cafés, restaurants and galleries: thanks to its conversion and building renovation, the Betonhaus, a listed building has become a popular meeting place. © Fotografia Maciej Lulko / GEZE Polska
The purpose of extensive building renovation and conversion work at the historic and neglected Betonhaus in Poznań, Poland, was to give the building a new lease on life and a new functional purpose. The former exhibition pavilion was now to serve as a meeting place with restaurants, cafés, an art gallery, a hotel and offices.
One key purpose of the project was to open up the Betonhaus by creating a terrace facing the surrounding Wilson Park and to establish a stronger connection to the public space. This required significant alterations to the building, however its original character needed to be preserved:
Challenging plans: Will the listed building be able to meet structural stability standards?
The most challenging plan was to replace a very high, solid concrete exterior wall with a modern glass sliding door system while retaining the original architectural columns that characterise the building's exterior appearance.
Three critical considerations were in focus here:
- Can a sliding door system cope with the height and static load?
- Can a solution be found that is sufficiently wind-resistant?
- How stable is the existing ceiling construction?
Building renovation and conversion in historical preserved buildings
As the project is subject to historical preservation regulations, the planning and implementation of all construction work involved special requirements. The original character of the architecture had to be preserved despite the conversion of the listed building, even though significant structural changes had to be made in order to implement the ambitious plans.
Visionary and competent: GEZE as a project partner
GEZE was the only company on the Polish market that was prepared to take on this highly complex and unique challenge. GEZE's ability to deliver a customised solution was the decisive factor. In addition, thanks to its many years of expertise, GEZE was able to provide support during the planning phase of the project with specialist knowledge on sustainable modernisation and building renovation, and will continue to be available after the project is completed with services such as maintenance and support.
LEARN MORE ABOUT GEZE SERVICESCustomised solution without compromise: GEZE MSW glass sliding wall system
The large glass elements of the customised sliding door system can be opened or closed depending on the weather. © Fotografia Maciej Lulko / GEZE Polska
One of GEZE’s key USPs was use of the movable glass partition wall system MSW with specially developed running gears, which ensured safe and reliable operation despite the unusual height and structural requirements. The GEZE manual sliding wall system uniquely combines flexibility, aesthetic integration and functionality – all essential factors in transforming the historic industrial building into a modern, multifunctional space.
The flexibility of the solution was decisive: the product can be adapted precisely to almost any architectural space – including the special conditions of the historic Betonhaus. This ability to seamlessly integrate the system into a non-standardised structure without compromising on functionality or design was key to the customer's decision to work with GEZE, and continues to be a strong selling point for future projects.
Currently, the Petit Paris restaurant is located in this area of the Betonhaus. The restaurant not only benefits from the inviting character and charming view of the park provided by the open façade, but can also use the terrace regardless of the weather and season.
Daria Kuttene, owner of Petit Paris, highlights the high functionality, flexibility and seamless integration of the GEZE MSW glass sliding wall system as key factors in creating an open, inviting space that enhances the restaurant's atmosphere all year round.
Thanks to the glass wall system, we can easily connect the interior of the restaurant to the terrace. Guests feel like they are sitting right in the middle of the park – whatever the weather.
Daria Kuttene, owner of Petit ParisThe advantages of the MSW movable glass partition wall
- Architectural adaptability: The manual sliding wall system creates open, modular spaces that reflect the architectural vision of the Betonhaus – the building’s industrial character is retained, yet it remains flexible for modern uses (e.g. retail, hospitality or cultural functions).
- Maximum transparency with minimal intervention: Frameless, fully glazed sliding panels preserve the visual integrity of the original concrete structure while providing a modern, open feel and natural light.
- Flexible room design: The manual sliding wall system allows the room to be easily reconfigured according to the desired usage: it can be closed to create intimate spaces or opened completely to connect interior areas with exterior areas or connect building sections.
- Efficient manual operation: Simple operation thanks to intelligent guidance systems and smooth opening/closing mechanisms allows the room to be reconfigured frequently without technical barriers for users.
- Customisable storage options: Storage recesses integrated into to the building structure provide a clean and discreet way to store the infill panels when the system is open – essential to maintaining the minimalist aesthetics of the revitalised space.
GEZE MSW: Customised sliding door system for modern, open and flexible room design
The guide rails of the system allow for safe operation of the manual sliding wall system. © Fotografia Maciej Lulko / GEZE Polska
Special solutions were implemented for the Betonhaus to ensure both functionality and aesthetics: three of the infill panels in the manual sliding wall system were designed to serve as entrance doors. When the partition wall system is opened or closed, these integrated door assemblies move together with the rest of the system, maintaining a seamless appearance while providing easy and functional access to the building. This solution was specially tailored to the client's desire for optimum usability without compromising the architectural coherence of the façade.
Challenging statics: powerful special solutions for the Betonhaus
As the building was very old and no detailed support documentation was available, a customised static reinforcement system was developed to ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity.
In close cooperation with a structural engineer from SQT Inżynieria w Budownictwie and an architect from JEMS Architekci, a reinforced steel substructure was designed to reinforce the existing ceiling. This customised solution was essential to ensure the structural integrity of the building, particularly given the unknown load-bearing capacity of the original structure. The reinforcement enabled the new manual sliding wall system to be installed securely while preserving the historic character of the building.
The challenge of historical preservation: between safety and aesthetics
Throughout the project, ongoing consultation with the conservation officer was essential. Their approval was required for each phase of the reconstruction to ensure that the historical value of the building was preserved while incorporating modern elements such as accessibility and fire protection. Another challenge was the presence of historical architectural elements that could not be moved or altered, such as the columns. To get around this, additional side guide rails had to be designed, which made it possible to install the sliding wall system without touching or damaging these protected parts of the building. One reason why the solution was accepted by the conservation officer was that, despite its impressive size, the GEZE MSW system is visually unobtrusive. It blends harmoniously into the historic architecture and preserves the original aesthetics of the room. Thanks to this customised combination of intelligent technology and subtle design, the room has been modernised in a way that meets the requirements of the historic preservation authorities, while also satisfying structural and aesthetic requirements.
Betonhaus Poznań
The Betonhaus, made of reinforced concrete, was built in 1910 over a six month period as an exhibition pavilion. It opened in May 1911 as part of the East German Exhibition for Industry, Crafts and Agriculture. It was originally used as a "hunting lodge" where imperial trophies were displayed. Over time, the hall has had various purposes, including housing university departments and serving as a music pavilion. The house is particularly impressive due to its ornately decorated barrel vault.
GEZE Services at a glance
GEZE provided the client with comprehensive support during the planning phase, supplying all the necessary CAD drawings for the manual sliding wall system. These technical drawings formed an important basis for the structural engineer and architects’ work, and enabled the partition wall system to be integrated precisely into the building design. Thanks to GEZE's detailed and project-specific documentation, the planning team was able to ensure optimal coordination between the architectural concept, the structural requirements and the functional expectations.
GEZE actively supported all parties involved in the project through close cooperation on site and via remote access. GEZE specialists on site and in the office worked hand in hand with architects, engineers and installation teams to ensure smooth communication, efficient problem solving and seamless integration of the manual sliding wall system at every stage. This proactive approach helped to keep the schedule on track, resolve technical challenges and align system implementation with the overall vision of the project.
GEZE supported the implementation process by working closely with the contractor throughout the installation and ensuring correct alignment with system specifications and functional requirements.
Installation of the manual sliding wall system was handled by an external contractor. However, GEZE provided technical support throughout the process to ensure proper assembly and configuration.
GEZE conducted on-site training for the plant's operating personnel. As the manual sliding wall system is a custom-made product, selected personnel were instructed in how to open and close the system correctly and safely. Only trained persons are authorised to operate the system.
GEZE supported the acceptance process by ensuring that the system was properly configured and functional prior to handover. There were no complaints or problems from the installation company, confirming the quality and conformity of the system.
GEZE offers a system maintenance service and is available for ongoing support as required to ensure the long-term reliability and performance of the solution.
