Two ceramic mosaics from Siedlce, which adorn the County Council building, have been listed as historic monuments. The works were created in the late 1960s to a design by Izabella Płachecka and are now the only examples of their kind in the town.
Art in the public spaces of post-war cities
The mosaics on the façade of the former Municipal National Council building reflect the broad artistic trend prevalent in Poland during the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, large, sculptural forms of this kind began to appear on the façades of public buildings as a distinctive element of their design. The colourful, often abstract works were intended to soften the austerity of modernist structures and give them a more approachable appearance. Izabella Płachecka’s work is the only surviving example of this type of decoration in Siedlce, which is why the decision by the Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments to place them under legal protection comes as no surprise.
The Siedlce mosaics – a unique feature
Both compositions adorn the side walls by the main entrance, a spot clearly visible to passers-by. Their form has a representative and aesthetic dimension, whilst also conveying specific content. The panels juxtapose motifs relating to the region’s history with dynamic, colourful arrangements full of abstraction. Among the figurative elements are, among others, the town’s coat of arms, an image of a mermaid and a schematic representation of the surrounding villages. Płachecka’s work as a whole reflects the ambitions of the then authorities of Siedlce and their approach to the development of the local community.
The architecture of the building on Piłsudskiego Street in Siedlce
The building featuring the mosaics was constructed in the second half of the 1960s to a design by Ryszard Piechota of the Provincial Design Office in Warsaw. It originally housed the Municipal National Council and financial and service institutions such as PKO, PZU and the ‘Ruch’ company. The building’s structure is C-shaped. The main, five-storey block is positioned parallel to Piłsudskiego Street, whilst two lower pavilions were added to the south. Between them lies a landing with wide steps leading to the entrance.
Two mosaics from Siedlce have been listed as historic monuments
Over the course of its 60-year history, the building has undergone several modernisations. As part of these, the layout of the windows in the side wings facing the courtyard was altered and the entrance stairs were modified, with greenery planted nearby and new handrails added. Despite these alterations to Ryszard Piechota’s original design, the mosaics have survived in very good condition. They are now protected by law, so they will not disappear like other works of this kind in the city.
Source: Mazovian Provincial Conservator of Monuments
Photos: Siedlce Branch – WUOZ in Warsaw
