Another Warsaw tenement house has just been awarded the status of a monument. This time, this honour was bestowed on the building at 23 Wilcza Street, located in the heart of the city centre. This decision highlights not only the architectural qualities of this unique property, but also its rich history, closely linked to the turbulent history of the capital.
Wilcza 23: from a manor house to an elegant townhouse
The tenement house at 23 Wilcza Street is not an accidental building. Its history dates back to the early 19th century, when the land on which it stands was part of the Kawęczyński manor. Over the years, the plot changed owners until, in 1912, on the initiative of Paweł Rotberg, the elegant tenement house that exists to this day was erected.
The work of Stanisław Grochowicz
The design of the house came from the highly regarded architect Stanislaw Grochowicz, whose name is inextricably linked with the modernisation of Warsaw in the early 20th century. It is Grochowicz who is responsible for the designs of many prestigious buildings in the city, including Felicjan Jankowski’s tenement house or H. Kolberg’s house on Aleje Ujazdowskie.
Witness to History: Inhabitants and the War
Over the years, the walls of the tenement house at 23 Wilcza Street have witnessed the lives of many generations of Varsovians. After Paweł Rotberg, the building passed into the hands of successive owners, and in the interwar period it was inhabited by a diverse group of representatives of the then middle class – from doctors and teachers to entrepreneurs and artists. It is worth mentioning that one of the residents was the painter Stanislaw Sawiczewski. Luckily, the tenement house survived the turmoil of the Second World War without any serious damage.
Post-war restoration and protection of the heritage
Thanks to the fact that major damage was avoided, we can still admire the original Art Nouveau façade of the tenement with its characteristic shallow rustication and rich ornamentation, including the date “1912” placed on the top of the building. After the war, renovation and preservation works were carried out on the initiative of the residents. Later, already the property of the State Treasury, the tenement house saw a thorough renovation in the 1990s, which restored it to its former splendour, with care taken to preserve the historical details.
Wilcza 23 as an architectural gem of the city centre
The tenement house at 23 Wilcza Street is a beautiful example of Warsaw residential architecture from the early 20th century. At the same time, it is a valuable witness to history, reflecting the spirit of the era and the ambitions of the architects and investors of the time. Its unique composition, combining elements of Baroque, Rococo and Art Nouveau, makes it a pearl in the architectural landscape of Śródmieście. Its inclusion in the register of historical monuments is a well-deserved tribute to the historical and artistic value of the building, as well as a guarantee that future generations will be able to admire this unique heritage.
Source: WUOZ in Warsaw
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