Dom Wedla

Iconic modernism in Mokotow. The Wedel House is a masterpiece of interwar architecture

The Wedel House, also known as the Jan Wedel Tenement House, is one of the most important examples of modernist architecture in Warsaw. Located on the corner of Pulawska and Madalińskiego streets, the building is not only an icon of functionalism, but also an exceptional example of the harmony of aesthetics and practicality in 1930s urban architecture.

The tenement house was erected in 1935-1936 to a design by Juliusz Żórawski, commissioned by Jan Wedel, a well-known industrialist and owner of the E. Wedel company. The project followed the principles of modern architecture formulated by Le Corbusier. The use of a free plan, based on a steel structure, avoided cramped courtyards and provided more open space. The freed-up ground floor not only emphasised the lightness of the volume, but also had a practical significance, allowing air to flow freely.

The townhouse in 1936. Source: Mazovia Digital Library

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A recreational terrace was designed on the flat roof, sheltered by a concrete truss that originally supported a Wedel advertising neon sign. Striped horizontal windows brought more light into the interiors, and the whole was enriched with artistic details such as bas-reliefs and unique façade finishes, emphasising the modern character of the building. The building was notable for its modern facilities, including elegant lifts, chrome mailboxes, a waste incinerator, a central radio antenna and staircases decorated with decorative terracotta.

The Wedel House in 1937 and 2024. Source: National Archives in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski

The building is one of the first Warsaw examples of semi-skeletal construction. The all-welded steel skeleton was supported on a concrete foundation with shock absorbers made of lead and asbestos sheets to dampen vibrations. Thanks to the use of modern technology, it was possible to build thin walls finished with noble materials such as clinker tiles and ‘White Marianna’ ground marble render.

The building volume attracts attention with its dynamic form, reminiscent of a sailing ship. The corner walls are curved and the outer planes seem to ‘interweave’, creating an effect of spatial depth. The façade has been carefully planned – the structural columns harmoniously interact with the positioning of the windows and loggias.

The Wedel House in 1937 and 2024. Source: National Archive in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski

The Wedel House is distinguished by its rich artistic decoration. One of the courtyards features the sculpture ‘Idyll’ and above the entrance to the shop there is a ‘Tiger’ plaque – both works of art by Stanisław Komaszewski. In the lobby of the main staircase, Zofia Stryjeńska painted the fresco ‘Highlander Dance’, which survives to this day. The work will soon undergo restoration, which we wrote about HERE. The ground floor of the building housed the Wedel factory shop, whose marble interiors have survived almost unchanged.

Dom Wedla
The bas-relief “Tiger” by Stanisław Tomaszewski on the façade
“Highlander Dance” by Zofia Stryjeńska. Photo by A. Smigielska, WUOZ in Warsaw

The building contained flats of varying size and standard, inspired by the solutions of Barbara and Stanisław Brukalski’s “low-cost housing”. The layout of the flats suited the different needs of the residents. In the front part, on the Madalińskiego Street side, there were three-room flats with an area of 85 square metres. The wing facing Puławska Street housed five-room flats with an area of 95-97 sq m, while in the courtyard annexes four-room flats with an area of 80 sq m were designed.

During the occupation, the Wedel House was occupied by German officers and Gestapo agents. During the Warsaw Uprising, soldiers of the “Olza” battalion tried to capture the tenement, but the building was not seriously damaged. In the 1960s, the ground floor clearances were built over, which changed the original appearance of the structure. The garden with sculptures in the courtyard of the tenement was also destroyed. Bullet marks from the war were visible on the façade until a major renovation in 2008-2009, which was carried out under the direction of Leszek Tischner. During the renovation, plaster of almost identical composition to the original was used, although this was not without controversy due to the removal of the historic façade.

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Wedel House before the façade renovation, bullet marks from the war can be seen. Photo by Uhmm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 2019, the neon sign “E. WEDEL CZEKOLADA”, made by the Neon Museum, was recreated on the roof of the building. It was a nod to the history and original appearance of the building, which still impresses with its form and functionality.

Source: spotkaniazzabytkami.pl, warszawa.fandom.com

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