At 151 Włókniarzy Avenue in Łódź stands a derelict villa, formerly owned by the Maurer family. The history of this place dates back to the end of the 19th century, when the Maurer family established a brickyard on the border between the settlement of Żubardź and the village of Żabieniec. The brickyard complex included the area of today’s greenery south of the villa and the areas now occupied by Włókniarzy Avenue and Żubardzka Street.
Access to the brickworks was provided by a private road running from Świeżej Street (today a fragment of Lutomierska Street). Lorenc Maurer built an eclectic-style villa for his family west of this road in 1913. The striking building with turrets and terraces was surrounded by a picturesque garden with a pond.
The Maurer villa in 1975. Photo author: Lukszto/photopolska.eu
In the interwar period, the brickyard ceased operations and its land was parcelled out. The access road became Żubardzka Street, which disappeared in 1969 as a result of the construction of Włókniarzy Avenue. The villa remained in the hands of the Maurers until 1958, when the head of the family, Lorenc Maurer, died. After his death, the building passed through successive hands and served various functions. At first it housed an orphanage, and in the 1970s the Baluty Hufce of the ZHP “Promieniści”.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the villa was taken over by PSS “Społem” and underwent extensive renovation. The “Nad Łódką” restaurant was established here, which gained popularity in the local community. In 2007, after several years of disuse, the building was leased to a private company for use as the Miracle Miód restaurant. During this adaptation, a wooden extension was added and the façade design was changed, which caused a lot of controversy.
In its new arrangement, the Maurers’ villa took on the appearance of a country inn, with decorations in the form of grain sheaves, garlic braids and numerous wooden elements. Although some people liked this design, others criticised the lack of stylistic consistency with the original character of the building. At the time, Zbigniew Pokuta from the Office of the Provincial Conservator of Monuments in Łódź pointed out that although such changes affected the interiors, the body of the building remained intact and any new elements could be removed to restore the building to its original state.
After years of use, the Miracle Miód restaurant left the building, which has since stood empty, at the mercy or disfavour of vandals. The Maurers’ Villa, listed in the register of monuments, is an example of eclectic architecture with elements of Art Nouveau. It is an important trace of Łódź’s industrial heritage, reminding us of its economic and social transformations. Despite this, the future of the property remains uncertain.
The building has changed owners and functions many times over the decades, losing some of its original elements and features, so its value as a historical and architectural monument needs to be protected and cared for. The current state of the property is not the best and only quick intervention and proper management can save it from progressive degradation.
Source: lodz.naszemiasto.pl, fotopolska.eu
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