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When brick meets Multipor: the restoration of Unesco Malbork Castle in Poland

When it comes to insulating historic buildings, contractors like to use Xella's Multipor mineral insulation boards. They are currently being used in the restoration of the largest brick castle in the world.

15 September, 2023

Few people know that the largest brick castle in the world is in Poland. Built in Malbork (Marienburg) in several stages from 1280 to the mid-15th century by the Teutonic Order, it was for a long time the capital of the monastic state. Malbork castle has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. Currently, two historical outbuildings of the outer castle are being reconstructed. The restored buildings are part of the economic chain that has been established since the 14th century.

Different use over the centuries

The buildings have served different purposes over the centuries: at the end of the 18th century, it was converted into the seat of the courts and the military commissariat (supply department). Then the church of St. Lawrence was desacralized, which closes the economic route from the south and is its oldest part. After 1945, the economic route of Malbork Castle was devastated and, except for the mentioned old church, it has been preserved to a large extent as a permanent ruin.

In February 2021, the project of restoration and partial reconstruction of economic buildings and their adaptation to cultural and educational functions began. By the end of the preservation and construction works in 2024, the Economic Route will house a library, conservation workshops, a digitization workshop, and the Center for the Study of Teutonic Heritage.

Insulation is needed

New functional features required the historic walls to be insulated. The beautiful brick walls could not be insulated from the outside. Multipor mineral insulation boards were used, which are particularly suitable for insulating the interior of historic buildings. They are non-combustible, regulate the room climate, and have been appreciated by restorers for years. In Malbork Castle, 16 cm thick Multipor boards were used in addition to insulated window reveals with 3 and 5 cm thick boards.

Xella's technical consultants assisted the designers and contractors at every stage of the restauration process to ensure that the insulation was as compatible as possible with the challenging historic walls, which were in danger of collapsing.

Here is our video report (with English subtitles)

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