The tenement house standing alone at Krucza 3 in Warsaw is the only relic of the old 19th-century buildings in this part of the capital. Although today it bears absolutely no resemblance to itself from decades ago, it is still worth paying attention to as a unique historical monument.
The tenement house with outbuildings was built in 1882-1883 for Jakub Zaleski. It was a four-storey building with a nine-axial front façade. Its designer gave the whole a Neo-Renaissance appearance, popular in Warsaw construction at the end of the 19th century. In the central axis was a decorated gate passage leading to a courtyard surrounded by outbuildings. Entrances in the passage led to the fenestration building and entrances to the outbuildings in the courtyard.
During the Second World War the tenement fortunately escaped serious damage and survived the post-war mass demolitions on Krucza Street. The Bureau of Capital Reconstruction classified it as suitable for renovation and housing. In 1949, the property was modernised, or rather devastated. At that time, the entire Neo-Renaissance decoration was removed along with the plasterwork. Since then, the striking façade has become an almost completely flat brick wall.
Krucza 3 in 1938 and 2024. Source: State Archive in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Only the remnants of the balconies, fragments of the cornice and pilasters of the risalit, a piece of rustication and the bricks that once formed the foundation of the ground floor rustication have survived to this day. In the interiors, however, many interesting details have survived, including tiled cookers, parquets and floors, door woodwork and stairs with balustrades.
Jakub Zaleski’s tenement house is today abandoned and protected from further devastation. It was entered on the list of monuments by the Mazovian Voivodeship Historic Preservation Officer in 2012, which will perhaps be its guarantee for rescue from ruin and a second life.
Source: polskaniezwykla.pl, warszawa1939.pl
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