The imposing townhouse at 57 Aleje Jerozolimskie had been shrouded in scaffolding for years, with crumbling plaster and empty windows, arousing both curiosity and a sense of sadness that such an impressive building was falling into disrepair right in the heart of a European metropolis. However, everything changed a few years ago when the long-awaited renovation work began on the building. Recently, the scaffolding has been removed from its façade, revealing to the people of Warsaw a completely new face of the historic building, unseen since time immemorial. The property is set to be transformed into a luxury hotel.
Aleje Jerozolimskie 57: the medical history of the tenement
The tenement house was built between 1910 and 1912 to a design by the British architect Arthur E. Gurney. The Drzewiecki family established a modern surgical and gynaecological clinic here, which later operated as the ‘Omega’ clinic and, after the war, as the ‘Omega’ Children’s Trauma Surgery Hospital. The building survived the Second World War without major damage, thanks to which it retained its original structure and a significant part of its original interior.
World-class architecture in the centre of Warsaw
The building makes quite an impression, even amidst such stately townhouses as those lining Aleje Jerozolimskie. It stands out primarily for its early modernist form, with influences from Neo-Romanticism and Northern European architecture. The high stepped gables, heavy pilasters and geometric divisions of the façade evoke associations with Hanseatic cities. The ongoing renovation has restored the façade’s former depth and ornamentation. It is dominated by cream and sand colours combined with the intense red visible on the balconies, cornices and window frames. The new ceramic roof tiles are in a similar colour scheme.
The journey from ruin to luxury hotel
After the hospital moved out at the beginning of the 21st century, the building stood abandoned and began to fall into disrepair. The tenement even earned the reputation of being the most infamous and unsightly ruin in the centre of Warsaw. Later, for a time, it hosted artistic events and alternative initiatives. Major changes only came about after the property was taken over by F Group. Initially, plans were considered to convert it into an apartment block with around 44 flats, but ultimately the decision was made to turn it into a hotel. Reports appeared in the industry press about a possible partnership with Marriott International, though the developer never officially confirmed this.
57 Aleje Jerozolimskie and the major renovation
Anna Rostkowska’s PROART studio is responsible for the tenement’s redevelopment project, in collaboration with the Tremend office and structural engineers from FUTUR. The scale of the work is immense and involves, amongst other things, ceilings, walls and foundations, as well as the redevelopment of the stairwells and the attic with its roof. The most striking part of the development will be a covered courtyard with a new steel, aluminium and glass structure. A grand hotel lobby with dining facilities and a relaxation area will be created there.
The project is nearing completion
Currently, the upper parts of the building look almost complete. The exposed façade already reveals the immense scale of the transformation, whilst the ground floor remains obscured by fencing and scaffolding. Once these too have been removed, Aleje Jerozolimskie will be enriched by yet another building ranked among the very best of the capital’s most distinctive pre-war structures.
Source:warszawa1939.pl, eurobuildcee.com, e-hotelarz.pl
See also:Tenement house|Monument | Architecture in Poland| Warsaw | Renovation
The tenement house in 1912 and 2026. Source: Mazovian Digital Library and Mateusz Markowski/whitemad.pl
The building in 2023 and 2026. Photo: Mateusz Markowski/whitemad.pl
