The Nikiszowiec workers’ housing estate in Katowice was declared a Monument of History by a decree of the President of the Republic of Poland on 14 January 2011. It is a unique urban and architectural complex, which was built at the beginning of the 20th century for the workers of the Silesian mine “Giesche”. Nikiszowiec perfectly illustrates the idea, popular in the 19th century, of building modern patronage settlements on industrialised areas. The aim of such estates was to bind the worker to the workplace and provide him with decent living conditions. The architects incorporated an extensive social and service programme into the design, which influenced the spatial layout of the estate, which was strictly subordinate to its function.
The patronal workers’ housing estate Nikiszowiec was designed by German architects Emil and Georg Zillmann between 1908 and 1912, commissioned by the Bergwerkgesellschaft Georg von Giesche’s Erben concern for the “Giesche” mine at the “Nickisch” shaft, from where it took its name. The construction of the housing estate was preceded by Giszowiec, which proved too small for the needs of the growing company. Similar housing colonies were designed to keep the worker in the workplace, offering favourable forms of housing fees and a wide programme of services, education and health care.
Nikiszowiec housing estate in 1912; view of Wyzwolenia Square. Photo: National Library
Nikiszowiec occupies an area of about 15 ha in the eastern part of Katowice. It consists of three functionally differentiated areas, forming a compact whole, connected by the main traffic route – Janowska Street, which converges with other streets to form Wyzwolenia Square. The estate is clearly separated from the rest of the city by a large street, closed on one side by the railway tracks.
The southern part of the housing estate has a residential character. The quarters are filled with multi-apartment blocks of flats, known in Silesia as “familokas”, with internal courtyards serving as recreational squares. The blocks, which have three storeys, are connected by six connecting passageways placed over the streets and supported by arcades. The uniform brick façades are varied with flat risalits, arcades, balconies, loggias, bays of varying shapes, pilasters, lisens, rustications, block friezes and glazed brick details. The windows have red reveals.
The focal point of the estate is Wyzwolenia Square, located in the eastern part. In the square there are service premises such as a post office, shops, a photography shop, a pharmacy and a hairdressing salon. The parish complex consists of St Anne’s Church, rectory and catechism house, surrounded by a wall. The church has a neo-Baroque character, as does all the original decoration and furnishings. Near the parish complex are the school buildings.
The north-western part consists of two symmetrically laid out residential quarters and the largest quarter with a residential and commercial character. It contains the administrative buildings of the mine, the former laundry with drying room and mangle, today the “Magiel” Gallery (a branch of the Museum of the History of Katowice), a school (in the building of the former mine baths), a water tower, a guildhall, a boiler house and outbuildings.
Nikiszowiec stands out not only architecturally, but also culturally. It is the best preserved mining settlement of the region, where the traditional lifestyle and customs resulting from the cultural specificity of Silesian mining communities are cultivated. After the Second World War, the Janowska Group, a group of non-professional artists who became famous for portraying the everyday life of Silesian mining communities, was established in the mine’s day room.
The inclusion of the settlement in the register of historical monuments made it possible to preserve its authenticity, which distinguishes Nikiszowiec from other, often deteriorating and transformed former patronage settlements of Upper Silesia. Thanks to this, Nikiszowiec has not only preserved its unique architectural features, but also continues to serve as a living museum of Silesian culture, attracting tourists and researchers from all over the world.
Nikiszowiec is an exceptional example of a workers’ housing estate that combines a rich history, unique architecture and living cultural traditions. Its recognition as a Monument of History is a testament to its great importance to Poland’s national heritage and proof that even in the heart of industrial Silesia it is possible to find places full of beauty and historical value.
Source: zabytek.pl
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