By Olivia Cafarelli Manzi
IPSWICH — Driving on Linebrook Road, you’ve likely spotted that striking, cylindrical structure that rises from a residential property. With its smooth concrete walls and newly restored exterior, the once-abandoned silo has intrigued passersby for years.
Now, Michal and Lidia Szydlowski have finally answered the community’s long- standing questions about the structure and its fate
The Szydlowskis moved to the property in 2020, inheriting the remnants of what was one part of a blueberry farm. The only structure on the land was the deteriorating silo, which stood roofless, windowless, and doorless.
Initially unsure of what to do with it, the answer soon came to them. A stream of people arrived at their new home, begging for the decrepit structure to stay.
“We noticed from the very beginning, whoever was walking or driving by [the property] and saw me doing something outside would just drive or walk in,” said Michal Szydlowski. “Almost always the first question was, ‘What are you gonna do with the silo?’”
For decades, the silo had served as a local landmark, offering a familiar spot for picnics and parking while visitors enjoyed the adjacent blueberry farms that are still in operation today.
“At first, we thought like every single potential investor: ‘Let’s knock it down and then see what we can do with the land’,” said Michal. “But my wife one day looked at it and said, ‘What if we restored it and turned it into something new and different?’’ And I said ‘great idea.’ So that was the day we decided we weren’t destroying it. Let’s keep neighbors happy.”
Originally from Poland, the Szydlowskis own PionArch, a commercial and residential design and construction firm.
With their knowledge of American and European architecture, they have made the silo an ongoing passion project for the family.
“Poland has a large focus on saving energy and using very durable materials, so their buildings last forever. We tried to save as much of the existing structure as we could,” said Lidia.
“Technology in Europe — Poland, specifically — is very focused on window-making right now and energy sufficiency during colder months. So, our house, as well as the silo, is energy-efficient. We’re gonna put some solar panels on the back so we can get even more off the grid.”
With the exterior of the silo now fully restored, the couple have turned their attention to the interior. The 12-foot-wide structure poses some design challenges, but the Szydlowskis have ambitious plans.
“We are currently drawing up plans for an underground tunnel that will connect the house to the silo,” said Michal. “We are planning on doing two levels. One will be an in-law apartment, and the other will be a sitting library and office.”
The Szydlowskis aren’t the only Ipswich residents with an old silo on their property. Since beginning their restoration, they’ve received inquiries from others looking for inspiration to repurpose similar structures.
“Renovating and converting it to a living space is a very challenging task, but if you have the means to do so, it’s worth it,” said Michal. They noted that current ADU laws in Massachusetts permit the renovation of existing structures on your property, such as abandoned silos.
If you are looking to upcycle an abandoned structure on your property or creatively renovate your existing home, the Szydlowskis have become Ipswich’s go-to experts. As for the community, they can keep an eye out for the next phase of the couple’s ambitious renovation.
Olivia Cafarelli Manzi is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This article was produced by Olivia for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with the Local News.
Massachusetts News Service 
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