The Bohdan Pniewski Villa in Warsaw, one of the most important works of Polish Modernism, has once again been recognised for its exceptional qualities. A set of furniture and elements of furnishings and decoration of its interiors have been entered in the register of movable monuments. The building at 27 Na Skarpie Avenue, designed and rebuilt by Pniewski himself, is an example of consciously combining modern architecture with the historical context of the place. Both the body of the building and its interiors reflect the characteristic style of the architect, who ranks among the most outstanding Polish artists of the 20th century.
Bohdan Pniewski’s villa and its interior with history
The Bohdan Pniewski Villa at 27 Aleja Na Skarpie in Warsaw is currently the headquarters of the Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The extremely original property hides in its interior a set of unique furniture and decor details from different periods of the architect’s activity. Thirteen objects have been entered into the register, including original furnishings from the 1930s and from 1945-1965. The collection is characterised by individual artistic expression and high quality of workmanship, as well as the use of innovative compositions and materials. The villa’s interiors bring together historical inspirations, such as the stoup or the decorative neo-Gothic balustrade panels in the ground floor, with folk elements and a modern approach to design. Alongside classical details, there are forms taken from nature, such as tree trunk and joinery details, and original use of materials such as sandstone, marble and Hutsul ceramics. Invariably, the most impressive feature is the ceiling in the study, where folk bowls are embedded in concrete. The fireplace in the living room and the staircase are also very interesting.
From a palace to a modernist villa
The building that serves as a museum today has much older roots than it might seem. Its original form dates back to the 18th century, when the Summer Palace was built there in the “Na Góra” garden, designed by Szymon Bogumił Zug. In the 1930s, the pavilion was purchased by Bohdan Pniewski, who adapted it into his own home and studio. The architect left the original portico with Doric semi-columns on the garden side, while he expanded the rest of the building in the spirit of functionalism. On the street side, the house was given a monumental, almost defensive character, enhanced by the sandstone cladding and the main entrance blended into the façade. The new arrangement of windows and doors, as well as the extended first floor, were in keeping with the language of modern architecture, while respecting the historical context of the site. Pniewski additionally used something very original in his design: he left a smooth sandstone plane on the corner of the front wall, on which a mysterious Latin inscription was carved:
SCANDIVS
DD AR
FX
TAMRC
which is supposed to mean: The climber has rebuilt the temple of the Freemasons and taken up residence in it.
A house with a wartime past
During the Second World War, the villa was occupied by the occupying forces and the Pniewski family was forced to leave their home. In 1944, when the capital was engulfed in the fighting of the Warsaw Uprising, the building found itself in an area of intense action, which caused serious damage to its mass. After the war, the architect returned to the ruined villa and proceeded to rebuild it, making modifications to the interior layout and elevations. Pniewski lived there until his death in 1965. After his passing, the villa was bought by the Polish Academy of Sciences and used for the Earth Museum. During cleaning work, traces of blood from the period of fighting were discovered on the marble staircase. In 1980, this event was commemorated with a plaque dedicated to an unknown insurgent.
The villa before the war and today. Photo “Architektura i Budownictwo”, no. 3-1938 and Wistula, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bohdan Pniewski’s villa legacy
The villa on Aleja Na Skarpie is considered to be Bohdan Pniewski’s most important work. The building’s architecture and interiors synthesise the main features of Pniewski’s work from the interwar period. As early as 1938, Jerzy Hryniewiecki, architect and architectural theoretician, considered the villa to be one of the most interesting realisations of the modern use of stone in architecture. The individual character of the building, the combination of different styles and materials and the creative approach to the composition of the space mean that the villa remains to this day a key example of Polish modernism with a national accent.
Protection of a valuable legacy
Entering the furniture ensemble and interior design elements of Bohdan Pniewski’s villa in the register of monuments is an important step towards protecting the architect’s heritage. Particularly in view of the fact that in 2023, news circulated in the media about plans to sell the monument by the Polish Academy of Sciences. The conservator’s decision underlines the value of these objects as an integral part of the building’s design and as a testimony to the era, creative ideas and exceptional craftsmanship of the architect, who played an important role in shaping the landscape of post-war Poland.
Source: Mazovian Voivodeship Conservator of Monuments
Read also: Architects | Urban Planning | Monuments | History | Warsaw | Architecture in Poland
