The house at 9 Wierzbowa Street is one of the buildings whose history makes it possible to trace quite accurately the transformations taking place in the historic centre of Warsaw since the beginning of the 19th century. The tenement house was closely connected with the figure of Ludwik Adam Dmuszewski, as for many years it served as his workplace in the editorial office of the ‘Kurier Warszawski’. After being almost completely destroyed during the war, the building was reconstructed to the form from the time of its construction.
Dmuszewski’s tenement house and its origins
At 9 Wierzbowa Street, right next to Theatre Square and the impressive Grand Theatre building, a two-storey building designed by Hilary Szpilowski was erected in the years 1818-1819. The house was commissioned from the architect by Ludwik Adam Dmuszewski, a well-known actor, singer, playwright, translator and later publisher of the ‘Kurier Warszawski’. In 1822, the man took over the newspaper from Bruno Count Kicinski and turned it into the most popular paper in the city. There was a printing press in the outbuilding of the property, where successive issues of the newspaper were prepared. At the end of the 19th century, however, the editorial office was moved to a tenement house at 40 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street.
Reconstruction and premises of “U Stępka”
In the 1890s, the classicist and inconspicuous building underwent a major reconstruction. This was a fairly common occurrence at the time, found in many parts of the capital. The design for the modernisation of the building was drawn up by the architect Franciszek Brauman, and the investor was the restaurateur Antoni Stępkowski, who ran the popular “U Stępka” commercial and catering establishment at the site. Construction work was completed in 1898 with very impressive results. The tenement was raised by one floor, decorative turrets, balconies and a mass of decoration were added. The modest classicist building was transformed into a lavish, almost palatial edifice.
“Oaza” in Warsaw – an interwar entertainment venue
From the beginning of the 1920s, the “Oaza” pub operated in the tenement at 9 Wierzbowa Street. The place quickly gained a reputation as an elegant restaurant with a dansing, an American bar and a dance hall. The strikingly designed interiors, offices with their own telephones and jazz orchestras upstairs attracted a large audience. The popularity of the ‘Oasis’ waned after the arrival of the ‘Adria’, but the premises continued to be popular with local residents. In 1936, it finally ceased operations, and a year later its space was taken over by the “Café Dancing Arizona”.
Dmuszewski’s tenement and the destruction of 1939
The period of grandeur of the rebuilt tenement did not last long, however. At the beginning of September 1939, the building was among the first buildings destroyed during German air raids on Warsaw. Bombs hit not only the house at Wierzbowa Street, but also the surrounding buildings at Piłsudski Square, the Brühl Palace and the Grand Theatre. Shortly afterwards, at the beginning of October of the same year, the facade of a burnt-out tenement house collapsed. This event was the signal for the start of a campaign to remove the dangerous front walls of burnt buildings throughout Warsaw.
Reconstruction after World War II
In 1945, almost all the buildings on Wierzbowa Street, Teatralny Square and the surrounding area lay in ruins. Soon afterwards, it was decided to reconstruct the building in a form reminiscent of its former appearance from the time when Ludwik Dmuszewski lived and worked here. The building was therefore restored to its classicist façade from before the great modernisation of the late 19th century. At the same time, the entire building was moved a few metres to the south, towards Niecała Street, as a result of the extension of the neighbouring Petiscus building, which was extended with an extreme risalit.
Dmuszewski tenement and today’s context
The rebuilt Dmuszewski tenement is a reminder of Warsaw’s former cultural and publishing life. It was restored to its original appearance from the first decades of the 19th century and located in a slightly modified position corresponding to the post-war urban layout of Wierzbowa Street. Through this procedure, the building has returned to the landscape of the capital and bears witness to its history of 200 years ago.
Source: warszawa1939.pl
Read also: Architecture | Tenement house | Curiosities | City | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
The buildings on Wierzbowa Street in 1838 and today. Source: Museum of Warsaw and Google Maps
Dmuszewski’s tenement in 1901 and today. Source: Polona National Digital Library and Google Maps
