Fot. Oleksandr Poliakovsky/UM Wrocław

A tenement house in the colours of heaven. The Wrocław monument has undergone renovation

·9 April 2025

For years, Wrocław has been systematically renovating its historic townhouses, restoring them to their former splendour and emphasising the historic character of the city. Façade renovations, the reconstruction of architectural decorations and the restoration of details that have been forgotten for decades make it possible for us to see with our own eyes a substitute for the Breslau of the past. One of the most recent examples of such a metamorphosis is the tenement house at Piastowska 25, a unique example of Wrocław Art Nouveau.

The angelic tenement house from the beginning of the 20th century once again impresses

The tenement house at 25 Piastowska Street is one of the examples of rental architecture from the early 20th century. The building was erected in 1903, in the period of intensive development of the neighbourhood, falling in the years 1901-1904. Tenement houses numbered 19, 21, 24, 25, 31 and 33 were also built at that time – all of them with a similar internal construction with two flats on each floor, designed according to a similar scheme. The tenements from this period are characterised by a solid architectural layout, with a clearly marked ground floor section. The facades of the buildings on Piastowska Street have a symmetrical, rusticated character, stretching across the entire length of the facade. The decorative style is eclecticism with dominant Art Nouveau elements, such as stucco panels with floral motifs, sometimes enriched with female masks. As noted by Barbara Banaś in her “Lexicon of Wroclaw architecture”, it is precisely such features that are typical of this part of the city.

Photo: Oleksandr Poliakovsky/UM Wrocław

Piastowska 25 and the rescued angel from the attic

Piastowska 25, now owned by a housing community (formerly a rental building), has been entered in the register of historic buildings. The recent renovation of the front façade was a complete success. Almost all the architectural details have been recovered, including stucco and characteristic ornamentation. The most striking feature is the statue of an angelic figure on top of the attic. She holds in her hands symbols that may indicate the care of the building craft – a hammer and a coat of arms. In the days when Wrocław was still called Breslau, small craftsmen’s workshops, including bakeries, butchers, as well as the side and back wings of tenement houses intended for the less well-to-do residents, were located deep in the plots at Piastowska Street.

Renovation under the watchful eye of the conservator

The restoration work was carried out under the close supervision of specialists. The stucco was restored, the window frames were partially replaced, the entrance gate was renewed and the walls on the courtyard side were modernised. New colours in shades of white and blue were established during stratigraphic research. The only complaint that can be made about the renovation is that some of the façade design elements were simplified and or omitted during the work. The cost of the renovation amounted to PLN 510 000, of which the city, which owns 23 per cent of the shares in the community, financed PLN 118 000. The tenement house is now only waiting for the technical acceptance, which will take place after the completion of minor finishing works.

Source: Municipality of Wrocław

The tenement house before and after the renovation. Photo: maras/polska-org and Oleksandr Poliakovsky/UM Wrocław