A historic tenement house in Łódź, where the “Pod koniem” clinic has been located for many years – the oldest veterinary clinic in Poland – has been put up for sale. This historic establishment, founded in 1891 at 22 Kopernika Street, is not only a symbol of tradition, but also an important point on the map of the city, commemorated by Julian Tuwim in his poem ‘Polish Flowers’.
History of the “Pod koniem” clinic
The “Pod koniem” clinic was founded by Alfred Kwaśniewski and Hugo Karl Warrikoff. The building, erected in two stages, was designed by architect Piotr Brukalski. Initially, it housed a single-storey section with a laboratory, offices and forge, and in later years a tower was added, which became one of the characteristic elements of the building. At the beginning of the 20th century, the facility was equipped with state-of-the-art veterinary equipment, including facilities for lifting and transporting injured animals. On the roof of the building is a life-size metal figure of a horse. This unusual decoration, which has undergone numerous renovations, is one of the symbols of Lodz. The figure was even mentioned by Julian Tuwim in his poem ‘Polish Flowers’ as a special element of the city’s landscape.
The fate of the Warrikoff family and their tenement house
After Hugo Warrikoff’s death in 1914, the medical centre passed to his son Nikolai. During the difficult period of World War II, the facility operated under the supervision of the German administration. After the war, the building was taken over by the state, and it was not until the 1990s that it was recovered by Alexander Warrikoff, the founder’s grandson. The man actively supported the development of the medical centre and also contributed to the restoration of the famous statue. The current owner, Hugo Warrikoff’s great-granddaughter living in the United States, decided to sell the property. The price of the townhouse, together with three office buildings and a warehouse, is PLN 2.9 million. The seller wants the new owner to continue the operation of the medical centre.
What next for the “Pod koniem” clinic?
The sale of the historic building arouses a lot of emotion among Łódź residents. The “Pod koniem” clinic has been providing veterinary care to animals in need for over 130 years. The seller hopes that the facility will continue to operate at this location, despite interest from potential buyers from other industries. However, the further fate of the clinic depends on the decision of the new owner. However, it is worth remembering that this historic building, entered in the register of monuments in 1971, is not only the heritage of the Warrikoff family, but also an important element of the cultural landscape of Łódź.
Source: lodz.pl
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The “Pod koniem” clinic in the 1970s and today. Source: State Archives in Łódź and Zala, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons