The tenement house with two facades, located at ul. Piękna 47/Koszykowa 64 in Warsaw, is an early modern building with a rich history, entered in the register of immovable monuments of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. Erected between 1904 and 1911, the property is a valuable example of Warsaw’s turn-of-the-century architecture. It was built for the family of Count Colonna-Walewski, and later passed into the hands of Wolf Hufnagel, a linen merchant. The building was probably designed by the well-known architects Henryk Stifelman and Stanisław Weiss.
The tenement, originally planned as an elegant residential building, underwent several significant ownership and architectural changes. In 1918, it was purchased by Wolf Hufnagl and his wife Sabina vel Szajndla Hufnagen. The building survived the Second World War in almost intact condition, a rarity in the much-destroyed area of Piękna Street.
Despite the good condition of the building, much of the façade decoration was removed during the post-war renovation. The rectangular under-window panels, the rustication on the first floor, the decoration of the balcony balustrades and the garlands under the cordon cornice had disappeared. The details of the façade on the Piękna Street side were also completely destroyed, with the exception of the rustication of the lower storeys.
Elevation from Piękna Street, 1937 and 2024. Source: State Archive in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The tenement was a residential space for middle-class representatives such as doctors, teachers or business owners. The building also housed a barber shop used by Marshal Józef Piłsudski. During World War II, the premises and underground passageways were used for underground activities.
The elevation from Koszykowa Street, 1937 and 2024. Source: National Archive in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The building is characterised by six storeys and two facades with early modernism features. There is a very narrow courtyard between the elevations. Inside, the tenement has retained its functional and spatial layout and rich decoration. Original elements include a wooden roof truss (with carpentry marks), ceramic floors, glazed wall tiles, doors to the flats, staircase decoration or stucco on the ceilings. The grounds of the property reflect the parcel divisions of the first half of the 19th century, which also emphasises the urban significance of the tenement.
The tenement house at ul. Piękna 47/Koszykowa 64 is one of the few buildings in the area that survived World War II without major damage. In the summer of 2024, it was officially entered in the register of monuments by the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments, due to its value and unique features. The building is an example of early 20th century architecture and its history reflects the social, urban and cultural changes in Warsaw.
Source: warszawa1939.pl, mwkz.pl
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