In the heart of Wrocław rises the monumental building of the Provincial Police Headquarters, which still impresses with its grandeur and architectural details. Erected between 1927 and 1929, the building is also impressive in its size – its construction consumed around a million bricks. To ensure stability on the muddy ground, engineers used 2,550 reinforced concrete piles, some of which reached 12 metres in length. The most impressive act of this architectural spectacle, however, begins once you cross the building’s threshold. The interior of the command building is a true masterpiece of art.
Podwale command – modernity and functionality
The design by Rudolf Fernholz is a perfect combination of functionality and modern solutions. The building was equipped with central heating, two telephone exchanges, fire detectors, lifts and an extensive security system, and in the courtyard there was a large clock with a three-metre high digital display. In addition, the facility provided staff accommodation, including a two-storey flat for the police chief. The complex had separate detention facilities for men and women, as well as kitchens suitable for preparing meals for detainees.
Roman and Egyptian inspirations in world architecture
One of the most characteristic elements of the edifice is the monumental portico in antis, harmoniously integrated into the building’s façade. The four massive pillars are decorated with sculptures of Roman warriors – the work of Felix Kupsch, who became famous for his sculptural decorations of the chequered post office in Krasińskiego Street. The building’s interiors are undoubtedly the most spectacular feature of the police building on Podwale and conceal equally unusual inspirations. In the 1920s, the whole world was gripped by Egyptomania caused by Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. This event had a huge impact on the art and architecture of the time. As a result, the briefing room of the Wrocław edifice was decorated with frescoes by Ludwig Peter Kowalski, referring to the art of ancient Egypt.
The interiors of the command building are full of elegance and symbolic details
The entrance hall, stairwells and meeting rooms are designed as representative spaces. In particular, the hall and the corridor in front of the meeting room are characterised by art-deco design: crystalline forms, green-turquoise glazed ceramics and sand-coloured frosted glass panes lend the rooms elegance and solemnity. The stairwells are decorated with geometric ornaments in abstract forms, and the walls in the meeting room are covered with ebony panelling and allegorical frescoes by Kowalski. The office rooms, on the other hand, were stripped of unnecessary ornamentation.
The interior of the headquarters building is a well-thought-out construction
The building was not damaged during the Second World War and still serves the same function today as it did before 1939. Its form was carefully planned not only for aesthetics, but also for practical considerations. The curved corridors not only adapted to the shape of the plot, but also made orientation difficult for outsiders. In addition, they prevented bullets from ricocheting off in emergency situations, and the thick door coamings could provide cover for officers.
A monumental and majestic edifice
The building of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wrocław is an architectural work of art in which every detail has its justification. Clinker bricks in a dark red, almost violet hue give the building’s façade an unusual depth and rhythm, emphasised by the play of chiaroscuro. The monumentality of the building is awe-inspiring, its austere aesthetic fits in with the ideal of a building that is both functional and representative. The unusual interiors of the Wrocław headquarters still bear witness to the masterful combination of modern architectural thought with a historical wealth of inspiration, making this building one of the most fascinating in the city.
Photos courtesy of Filip Heliasz.
Source: Wrocław – Construction investments, wroclaw.pl
Read also: Interiors | Detail | Architecture in Poland | Monument | History | Wrocław | Brick
