Piastowski Square in Bydgoszcz

Piastowski Square is a large and important square in downtown Bydgoszcz, bearing several buildings registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.

Piastowski Square
Bird eye view
Location in Bydgoszcz
Native namePolish: Plac Piastowski w Bydgoszczy
Former name(s)Elisabeth Markt, Dr. Goebbels Platz
TypeSquare
OwnerCity of Bydgoszcz
LocationBydgoszcz,  Poland

Location

Piastowski Square is settled north of Dworcowa Street, west of Gdańska Street. It is delineated by Śniadecki, Chrobrego, Wileńska and Sowińskiego streets.

It has approximately the size of a 140m by 100m rectangle, with its longer axis oriented NW-SE.

History
View of the square ca 1902

This vast square dates back to the creation of Sniadecki Street, after the second half of the 19th century. It has always kept its original functions, as a marketplace, hence its original name Elisabethmarkt, after Elisabeth Straße, original name of Sniadecki Street.[1]

The area is roughly depicted on an 1857 map of Bromberg,[2] but earliest documented reference appears in the 1870s, with a mention in the 1872 city address book.[3]

Through history, the square bore the following names:

The current namesake comes from the Piast dynasty, first historical ruling dynasty of Poland, which started with Prince Miesko I in 960 and ended with Casimir III the Great in 1370.

Main places and buildings

Tenement at No.1, corner with Sowińskiego Street

1889[6]

Eclecticism

The first owner of the building at Elisabeth Markt 10 was August Zuß.[7]

  • Main elevation from the square

Tenement at No.2

1872[6]

Neoclassical architecture

The first landlord who lived at originally Elisabeth Markt 11, in the 1890s, was Auguste Raabe,[8] having business in shipping till the end of World War I.

The edifice, unfortunately, lost all its neo-classical features with time. A recent renovation occurred in the late 2010s.

  • View of No.2 and No.4 in 1900
  • N2 and N4 after renovation

Tenement at No.3

1878,[9] rebuilt by Jan Kossowski (1939)

Eclecticism

Original address was Elisabeth Markt 9, it has been ordered by Julius Gendal,[9] who then moved to No.4.

Today the elevation displays a modern style, as a consequence of the rebuilding by Jan Kossowski, who also realized in Bydgoszcz, among others the Freedom Monument and houses at Ossoliński Alley No.5 and Plac Wolności 7.

  • Current facade on the square

Tenement at No.4

1895-1896[6]

Eclecticism

Original address was Elisabeth Markt 12: its first owner was a wood manufacturer, Julius Gendal.[9]

The main elevation displays its original architectural details, in contrast with No.2. Facade shows symmetric features, left and right of the main gate, especially stacked balustrade areas, either balcony or loggias on both extremities.

  • Main elevation

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at No.5

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601221, Reg.A/746, December 12, 1971[10]

1913, by Oskar Hoßfeld

Neo-Baroque

The church has been consecrated by Wilhelm Kloske, Gniezno's suffragan bishop on June 19, 1913. Initially, it was reserved for the use of German Catholics, but was opened to both communities, German and Polish, on February 17, 1924.

  • View from the square
  • Main facade
  • Church steeple
  • Church nave

Tenement at No.7

1875-1876[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 7, first owner was Carl Teschner, merchant, then member of the city council, co-owner of a brick factory, "Carl Teschner und Wilehlm Vincent" on Allee straße (today Ulica Stroma).[11]

Although deprived from some architectural details, one can still appreciate the symmetric facade centered on the two balconies, the first floor windows with pediments, cartouches, balustrade, and the top thin frieze with floral motifs.

  • View of the main elevation from the square

Tenement at No.9

1884-1885[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 6a, first owner was August Kopplow, an administrative assistant.[12]

The main elevation lost most of its architectural features, albeit it has been renovated in 2017.

  • Main frontage

Tenement at No.11, corner with Wileńska Street

1886-1887[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 6, the first owner being a rentier, Fritz Dörnbrack, who lived at Elisabeth Straße 11, now Śniadecki Street 37.[13]

The elevation, recently refurbished (2016), shows evident Neo-Classicist features. Symmetry of both facades, plain pedimented windows and carved cartouches with children figures. The main gate is flanked by two lean columns.

  • Corner view
  • Facade on the square
  • Detail of the main gate
  • Detail of a window cartouche
East side frontages (No.11a to 17) ca 1912

Tenement at No.11a, corner with Chrobrego Street 23

1902-1903[13]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 5, the first owner was a rentier, Arthur ßaulini,[14] who resided at neighbouring No.4 (now No.13).[15] In 1910, the edifice moved to the hands of Carl Rose, a famous architect in Bromberg living on Danzigerstraße 29.[16]

The renovated corner house displays several architectural details, characteristic of Eclecticism. One can underline in particular:

  • Corner view
  • View from the square
  • Detailed view from the square
  • Detail of the balcony
  • Detail of a window balustrade and pediment
  • Facade on Chrobrego Street

Tenements at No.13, 15, 17

1893-1894 (No.13)[6]

1894-1895 (No.15) and 1895-1896 (No.17)[6] by Karl Bergner[17]

Eclecticism

These buildings were located at respectively No.4, 3 and 2 of Elisabeth Markt. First owners were:

- August Günther (No.13 and 15), a wood trader, living at No.13;[18]

- Adolf Röhr (No.17) a restaurateur, who ran his business at the same address.[18] Today, the place still houses a restaurant.

The architect Karl Bergner realized these buildings with the same pattern in mind.

No.13 and 15 mirrored each other in perfect symmetry: only some ornamentation details differ. One can appreciate the large gates with a round glass transom light, crowned with a stylish motif and the pedimented first floor windows. No.13 facade retains bit more architectural details, such as additional head figures, and a left part of the elevation with richer decoration (pilasters, stucco ornaments).

No.17 breaks the symmetry, with thicker bossage lines on the ground level and the absence of architectural details present at No.13 and 15. Still noticeable is the main gate with a transom light, flanked by pilasters topped by floral and puttoes motif.

  • Facades of No.13 and 15
  • Main gates of No.13 and 15
  • Detail at No.13
  • No.13, left part of the elevation
  • Main elevation of No.17
  • Main gate at No.17

Tenement at No.19, corner with Śniadecki Street

1875[6]

Eclecticism, Neo-Renaissance

The building, then at Elisabeth Straße 39, was owned by a rentier, Carl Wilhelm Feyertag, living at "Bahnhoffstraße 11" (now Dworcowa Street No.27).[16] He also owned the tenement at Śniadecki Street No.57.

Recently renovated, the elevation is remarkable by its wooden bay window capped by a tented roof, overhanging the corner. A long frieze runs on both frontages.

  • Corner view
  • Renovated facade on the square
  • Bay window

Tenement at Śniadecki Street No.45

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.A/1658, May 23, 2014[19]

1896-1897[19]

Eclecticism

The building, then at Elisabethstraße 23 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 24 (No.47).[20]

The building strikes by its original shape and its rich architectural decoration. The facade is asymmetrical, the only bay window is unbalanced, with quarter circle wrought-iron balconies flanking its left side. Both balconies have a bear cub holding a shield that stands in the corner: it is a reminder of the past activity of a metal craftwork company in the district.[21] A elaborate frieze runs between first and second level, and two windows are topped with triangular pediments: the one on the right side is adorned with a bas-relief of bearded male head with a hat. On the top of the facade stands a sundial, neighboured by two finials. At street level, one can notice the grand portal, crowned by a mask of a beast.

Tenement at Śniadecki Street No.47

Late 1880s

Eclecticism

The building at Elisabethstraße 24 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 23 (No.46). No.47 was the one he was registered as living in.[20]

The long facade, with only one floor boasts a beautiful decoration on top of the gate, with two sphinx like woman figured shapes support another vegetal decoration with a mask. Traces of pilasters are still visible on the first floor, crowned by a full-length balustrade. The two ogee gables are also ornamented.

  • Main elevation
  • Gable
  • Main gate
  • Detail of the facade

Tenement at Śniadecki Street No.49

1911-1912

Art Nouveau-Modern architecture

The tenement stands in the corner with Jan Matejko Street. In Bromberg's time, address was Elisabethstraße 25.:[22] owners were registered as "Ms Sendler and Genossen".[22] In 1915, an architect, Walter Findeisen, lived in this house.[22] The building houses today the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bydgoszcz[23]

The tenement stands out of the local urban environment with its lean and high features. Due to its late inception (1910s), the building has been erected according to late Art Nouveau canons, thus it catches the eye among late 19th century edifices. The house architecture is underlined on the one hand by long vertical lines without any ornament (art), broken up on the first floor by horizontal bossages, and on the other hand by two massive bay windows and a modest bartizan. Building's elevation has been refurbished in 2015–2016.[24]

  • View from the street before renovation
  • Elevation on Jan Matejko Street
  • Detail of the upper part of the facade
  • Detail of the bartizan

Tenement at Śniadecki Street No.53

1895[25]

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 27, it was the property of a real estate owner (German: Zimmermeister), Michael Engelhard, living at No.57. The building was designed for renting.

The elevation is essentially remarkable by the impressive decorated balconies with Neo-Baroque accents: balustrades, heavy corbels, pilasters around the openings and a highly ornamented grand lintel on the second floor.

  • Main elevation from the street
  • Detail of adornment
  • Decorated chambranles of the windows

Tenement at Śniadecki Street No.55

1899-1900[26]

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 28, it was owned by Friedrich Gerth, a tailor:[26] at that time, he lived at No.53. The building has been home place of Szczepan Jankowski, a Polish blind composer, organist and conductor of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A memorial plaque has been unveiled on November 8, 2010.[27]

Compared to No.53, No.55 is even more remarkable by its Neo-Baroque balconies complex. Both balconies flank a large bay window adorned with bossage and pilasters. Railings are adorned with wavy circle shapes placed like rosettes.

Tenements at Śniadecki Street No.57

Late 1870s[9]

Left house: Eclecticism, Neo-Renaissance

Right house: Modern architecture

Original address was Elisabethstraße 29: it was owned by Carl Wilhelm Feyertag, a rentier,[9] living at "Bahnhoffstraße 11" (now Dworcowa Street No.27): he also owned the house at No.19. Since 1956, the left tenement houses the family-run bakery "KP", established in 1922[28] by Franciszek Poćwiardowski. Today the ground floor of the right building houses 1956-established ice cream firm "Lodziarnia Żak".[29]

Although from the 1870s, the left elevation has been rebuilt and presents early Art Nouveau elements like the vegetal ornaments on the wavy shaped gable. Right facade displays early modernist elements, expressed in the very shape of the elevation, with the round bay window topped by a balcony, and the multitude of narrow and thin openings.

  • Left facade elevation
  • Detail of the gable
  • Right facade elevation
  • Both facades from the street
The square in 1917

See also

References
  1. graf13 (8 April 2012). "ZEGARY BYDGOSZCZY cz 5". Salon24. Salon24. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. 1857 Plan_von_Bromberg_u_Umgegend_Berlin 1857
  3. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1872). "Strassen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. XI.
  4. Plan Miasta Bydgoszczy, 1933
  5. Stadt Bauamt, Bromberg, 10 VII 1941
  6. Jasiakiewicz, Roman (24 April 2013). Uchwala NR XLI/875/13. Bydgoszcz: Miasta Bydgoszczy. p. 112.
  7. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1876). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 89.
  8. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1890). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 159.
  9. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1878). "Strassen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. pp. 26, XIV.
  10. zabytek-kujawsko-pomorskie-data dostępu=28.02.2014
  11. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1890). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 207.
  12. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1886). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 79.
  13. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1888). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. pp. 23, 35.
  14. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1903). "Straßen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 31.
  15. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1903). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 138.
  16. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1910). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. pp. 234, 427.
  17. Jastrzębska-Puzowska, Iwona (2006). Od miasteczka do metropolii. Rozwój architektoniczny i urbanistyczny Bydgoszczy w latach 1850–1920. Bydgoszcz: Mado. ISBN 8389886715.
  18. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von, Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr (1896). "Names". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. pp. 59, 146.
  19. Powiatowy Program Opieki nad Zabytkami 2013-2016
  20. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr 1898 (1898). "Straßen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 27.
  21. "Around the city centre". visitbydgoszcz.pl. Bydgoskie Centrum Informacji. 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  22. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr 1915 (1915). "Straßen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 77.
  23. "Consulate of Germany in Bydgoszcz, Poland". EmbassyPages.com. EmbassyPages. 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  24. Mąka, Wojciech (26 August 2015). "Kamienica jak malowana. W Bydgoszczy jest ich coraz więcej". express.bydgoski.pl. Express Bydgoski. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  25. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr 1895 (1895). "Straßen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 24.
  26. Adressbuch nebst allgemeinem Geschäfts-Anzeiger von Bromberg und dessen Vororten auf das Jahr 1900 (1900). "Straßen". auf Grund amtlicher und privater Unterlagen. p. 26.
  27. Uchwala No.LXVIII/1061/10 Rady Miasta Bydgoszczy, 30th June 2010
  28. "O nas". pocwiardowski.bydgoszcz.pl. Joomla-Monster. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  29. "lodziarnia zak". lodziarniazak.pl. lodziarniazak. Retrieved 26 June 2016.

Bibliography
  • (in Polish) Przewodnik po Bydgoszczy. Bydgoszcz: Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy. 2014.
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