The Wędlikowskis’ House is an exceptional example of a modernist bourgeois tenement house, located in Katowice at 10 PCK St. It was designed by architect Stanislaw Gruszka and completed in 1939. Its history and architecture reflect both a modernist approach to design and a fascination with functionalism.
The tenement was built between 1937 and 1939, commissioned by Dr Kazimierz Wędlikowski and his wife Henryka. It was designed as a multi-family building, with rental flats. During the German occupation and later in the post-war period, the flats were inhabited by senior officials, although one unit was left to the owners. After 1989, the tenement returned to the Wędlikowski family.
Early 1940s Source: Museum of the History of Katowice
The Wędlikowskis’ House is a five-storey building with a basement, erected on the projection of the letter ‘L’. The building is characterised by a flat roof acting as a terrace and a “soft” rounded corner, which is one of the most recognisable features of the building. The windows in this corner are made of cylindrical glass, which gives the façade an original, futuristic look. The building is also crowned by a flagpole. The façade of the building is asymmetrical and based on a horizontal composition. It features distinctive horizontal stripes of windows, balconies and contrasting colours – white, black and red. The textured plasterwork has earned the building the nickname ‘zebra’.
The interior of the building has remained almost unchanged since its construction. The staircase, located in the central part of the building, is lined with marble and travertine tiles, and the floors are made of tri-coloured terrazzo. Furnishings such as original letterboxes, chrome balustrades, doors and a Sowitsch lift with a crystal mirror emphasise the prestige and elegance of the place. In 2005, the building was entered in the register of monuments under number A/162/05, confirming its exceptional architectural and historical value. It currently serves as residential and office space. The tenement has also become part of the “Route of Modernism” project in Katowice, promoting the modernist heritage of the city.
Source: radio.katowice.pl, wikipedia.org
Also read: Katowice | Tenement | elevation | monument | whiteMAD on Instagram
