The tenement house at 130 Chmielna Street in Warsaw has been listed as a historic monument. The building dates from the late 19th century and is of particular, multifaceted significance. It survived the extensive destruction of the city during the Second World War and, despite standing empty, still retains priceless elements of its original interior, including the staircase and the gateway. Together with the neighbouring tenement houses, it also forms a commemorative remnant of the former, typical architecture of this neighbourhood. The decision to list the building was taken by the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, Marcin Dawidowicz.
Chmielna 130 – history of its construction
The building at Chmielna 130 was constructed between 1896 and 1897 on the initiative of Naftal and Frajda Nisenszal, representatives of the Jewish community involved in trade and property. The property was built as a tenement block intended for the letting of flats of varying standards, as well as commercial premises on the ground floor. Its location on the western section of Chmielna Street was then one of the most attractive addresses in the developing Wola district, close to major transport routes and the railway. The high architectural standard of the building, the use of durable materials and its decorative features indicate that the development was aimed at the city’s more affluent residents, including merchants and craftsmen.
The building’s history up to 1939
Over the following years, the tenement house changed hands several times, which was typical for such properties in the rapidly developing Warsaw of the turn of the century. Nevertheless, the building retained its residential and commercial function and its original layout, with a clear division between the front section and the outbuilding. The property provides a good illustration of the intensive development of tenement housing at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in areas inhabited by Jews, who played a very important role in shaping this part of the city. Documents and accounts from the period highlighted the high standard of the flats, including the presence of stove heating and the meticulous craftsmanship of individual details.
World War II
The building’s history was profoundly shaped by the events of the Second World War, which led to the destruction of a significant portion of Warsaw’s buildings. The building found itself in the area of intense fighting for the Main Railway Station and the Post Office Station as early as September 1939, when the neighbourhood was the target of bombing and artillery fire. The area subsequently became a battleground during the Warsaw Uprising. In early August and September 1944, insurgent resistance posts operated nearby, including units of the ‘Chrobry II’ group, which fought to hold strategic, railway and transport facilities. Despite this, the tenement house survived virtually unscathed.
Chmielna 130 – subsequent history
After 1945, the new authorities considered demolishing a significant portion of the surviving buildings in this area. All this was part of a wide-ranging reorganisation of Warsaw’s urban space and new concepts for the city’s reconstruction and expansion. Ultimately, the section of the northern frontage of Chmielna Street, including the tenement house at number 130, was spared. Unfortunately, the three neighbouring buildings never received a proper renovation. Years of neglect led to a systematic deterioration in the condition of these buildings. This ultimately resulted in almost all the decoration being stripped from the façade (except for the ground floor) and the removal of the balconies, which were deemed dangerous to residents and passers-by. The tenement house currently stands empty.
Preserved building décor
Despite such a difficult history, the 19th-century property has retained its original layout with a single courtyard and some of its historic ornamentation. The ground floor is still clad in elegant rustication, and decorative metalwork can still be seen in the shop windows. Unfortunately, there is no trace of the richly decorated façade today. The balconies were once supported by cast-iron corbels of a massive, profiled form. Today, they protrude from the façade like stumps. The preserved gateway passage, with all its decoration inspired by various styles, is particularly interesting. Inside the building, the staircase, decorated in shades of white and blue with ornate landings and painted walls, catches the eye. The tiled stove heating the corridor has also been preserved, as has the original doorwork with its beautiful carved decorations. The building also features cast-iron balustrades, handrails and ceramic tiles.
One can only hope that the tenement’s entry into the register of historic monuments will pave the way for its long-awaited renovation and the preservation of what history has not destroyed.
Source: Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments
Read also:Warsaw|Monument|History | Architecture in Poland
