The “Pod Messalka” tenement house, located at 16/18 Krakowskie Przedmieście, is a building with a rich history. In the past, it was also known as the tenement house of the Liedtke family. The first buildings on this property appeared as early as 1659. In the following decades, typical bourgeois townhouses were built there. With the beginning of the 20th century came great changes. The old buildings were demolished to be replaced by a grandiose town house. The building burnt down in 1944, and during reconstruction it was decided to give it a less lavish character, matching the more intimate Krakowskie Przedmieście.
In 1909, when house number 16 belonged to Maria Liedtke and number 18 to her brothers, both buildings were demolished. A new six-storey tenement house was erected across the property, designed by Juliusz Dzierżanowski and completed in 1910. A one-bay side annexe and a two-bay transverse annexe were added from the courtyard. The outbuildings housed a luxurious bathhouse. The building soon acquired the name “Under Messalka,” referring to one of its occupants, the well-known opera singer Lucyna Messal. The façade of the magnificent building was in the Art Nouveau-Modernist style with an asymmetrical composition.
The “Under Messal” tenement house in 1918. Source: Society for the Care of Monuments of the Past
During the Second World War, in 1944, the tenement was severely damaged and burnt down, but the walls with all the decoration and the fireproof ceilings survived. The neighbouring buildings were much less fortunate. In 1948, the front building was lowered to two storeys and its façade was given the appearance of two townhouses whose forms referred to the Baroque. The courtyard façade and outbuildings escaped reconstruction. In 1997, the surviving outbuildings were renovated, adding new elements referring to the Art Nouveau style, such as ceramic strips.
The tenement house in 1918 and today. Source: Towarzystwo Opieki Nad Zabytkami Przeszłości i whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The building in 1937 and today. Source: National Archives in Warsaw and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
Scorched buildings of Krakowskie Przedmieście in 1944 and the same place today. Source: Digital National Library Polon and whiteMAD/Mateusz Markowski
The aforementioned bathhouse also survived the turmoil of war and post-war modifications. It was one of the most valuable elements of the tenement. The luxurious premises were also designed by Juliusz Dzierżanowski. Its decoration included stained glass from the “Białkowski i S-ka” workshop, Czech majolica and bas-reliefs by Stanisław Jagmin. The bathhouse was in use until 1991. After years of neglect, it underwent a major renovation in 2007, restoring it to its former glory.
Source: warszawska.info, fundacja-hereditas.pl
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