© Muzeum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów
   |   24.04.2019

Protection of monuments during renovation works

Renovation works currently carried out on the floors and roofs of the garden galleries require protection of the historic decorations of the adjacent rooms. Their walls and ceilings are covered with valuable frescos attributed to royal painters, as well as stucco work and ceramic wall linings. Many of these objects have undergone thorough conservation in recent years and their unique character has been restored. The small cabinets in the body of the palace and the entrances to the staircases leading to the Feast Hall were separated by special partitions for the time of renovation. Corridors were also built to allow movement between the southern and northern galleries. Despite these mechanical partitions and special covers, it is not possible to completely separate the rooms from the technical work that causes dust. Climatic conditions, which often require stabilisation in a historical building, are particularly problematic in enclosed rooms due to the difficult flow of air. For this reason, from the very beginning of the renovation works, the conservation team has been carrying out an intensive inspection of the rooms on the first floor of the palace. Every day, twice a day, employees review the enclosed spaces, check the state of preservation of interior design, check the results of temperature and humidity measurements collected by the devices installed in selected places. Measurements of air pollution and microbiological status of historic surfaces are also regularly performed. When environmental conditions are disturbingly abnormal, e.g. humidity levels are too high or condensation occurs on walls and window glyphs, which is also affected by conditions outside the building, interventions are undertaken, climate modifiers are set up and other ad hoc solutions are implemented to stabilise the situation. Conservation recommendations and comments on risks, such as the need to improve dust insulation or ventilation, are communicated and consulted with both museum technicians and contractors.

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