Reconstruction of the Saski Palace, the Brühl Palace and the tenement houses on Królewska Street
A government project to reconstruct the western frontage of Piłsudski Square in Warsaw (Mazowieckie Voivodeship): the Saski Palace, the neighbouring Brühl Palace, and the tenement houses on Królewska Street, destroyed during the Second World War. The investment is being carried out by the special-purpose company Pałac Saski sp. z o.o., established in December 2021, on the basis of a dedicated 2021 act. The whole was estimated in the act's justification at approx. PLN 2.45 billion, and by 2025 approx. PLN 85 million had been spent on preparatory works (archaeological research, documentation, an architectural competition won in 2023 by the WXCA studio). Despite declarations, construction has not started: there is no building permit and no signed design contract with WXCA, and the appellate authority only in February 2026 opened the way to obtaining the environmental decision. The Supreme Audit Office (NIK) pointed to the lack of a realistic cost estimate and schedule and to the risk of missing the deadline set for 31 December 2030. In 2026 the Ministry of Culture confirmed the continuation of the investment and denied reports of its termination.
How it went
Assessment: too early to assess. Signals only where documented.
Timeline
- Announced 2018
- Original date 2030
- Current date 2030
Change history
- Jul 2026 status: under construction Investment continued in the preparatory phase (not suspended): location decision by the Mazowieckie Voivode of 21 January 2026, a second season of archaeological research at the Brühl Palace site from March 2026, and negotiations on the design contract with the WXCA studio (signing planned for autumn 2026). In June 2026 the Ministry of Culture denied reports of the investment's termination. Construction has not yet begun — no building permit, expected according to the company by July 2027.
- 2023 stage: permits
Significance
The reconstruction is to recreate the historic development of the western frontage of Piłsudski Square, destroyed during the Second World War, and to close off the space around the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the buildings are to serve public functions. It would be the most expensive reconstruction in Warsaw since the rebuilding of the Royal Castle. The project remains politically contested — disputes concern costs, purposefulness, and the pace of work — and years of delays (the missing environmental decision, the unsigned contract with the designer, NIK's remarks) make the original 2030 deadline unrealistic. The Ministry of Culture described the investment as the symbolic end of Poland's postwar reconstruction.
Sources 7 · 6 archived
Every fact on this card comes from the sources below. Next to each source — which fields it supports.
- Money.pl 1 Dec 2021CostInvestorDescriptionSignificanceOutcome
Cost „Koszt całego przedsięwzięcia (włącznie z odbudową sąsiedniego Pałacu Brühla oraz kamienic przy ul. Królewskiej w Warszawie) wyceniono na 2,45 mld zł."
Investor „W środę powołana została Spółka Celowa Pałac Saski sp. z o.o., która zajmie się przedsięwzięciem."
locations „kamienic przy ul. Królewskiej w Warszawie"
- PropertyNews.pl 4 Mar 2026CostDescriptionSignificanceOutcome
- Forsal.pl 27 Mar 2026StatusStageStage historyAnnouncedOriginal dateDescriptionSignificanceOutcome
Status „Tym czasem nie wbito nawet pierwszej łopaty."
Stage „Brakuje nie tylko pozwolenia na budowę, ale także umowy z projektantami."
Stage history „W 2023 roku wybrano projektantów odbudowy. (…) zwyciężyła polska pracownia WXCA"
Announced „Po raz kolejny do sprawy wrócił prezydent RP Andrzej Duda w 2018 roku."
Original date „Zagrożony jest planowany termin ukończenia inwestycji oszacowany pierwotnie na 2030 rok."
- Architektura-Murator 24 Jun 2026StatusDescription
- Czy to koniec odbudowy Pałacu Saskiego? Resort kultury zabiera głos w sprawie wielkiej inwestycji ↗ archived ✓PropertyDesign.pl 24 Jun 2026StatusCurrent dateDescriptionOutcome
Status „Obecnie na terenie budowy wciąż trwają prace archeologiczne"
Current date „Pierwotnie inwestycja miała zostać ukończona w 2030 roku, jednak dotrzymanie tego terminu stoi pod znakiem zapytania."
Losses „The information contained in the deputy's post is false"
- Rzeczpospolita 15 Jul 2026StatusStatus historySignificanceOutcome
- Pałac Saski sp. z o.o. 2026StatusStageCurrent dateOutcome
Status „Obecnie na terenie budowy wciąż trwają prace archeologiczne"