+48 796 800 178
piotrkowska37@odnova.pl
History
The building was designed in 1903 by the father and master of Łódź Art Nouveau and one of the most eminent architects in the city’s history – Gustav Landau-Gutenteger. The design perfectly combines the richness of ornamentation commonly associated with Art Noveau with an emphasis on the building’s tectonics and its modern, reinforced concrete structure, heralding the aesthetics of modernism.
The building stands out from its surroundings due to its height, the huge glazed shop windows and the characteristic cupola crowning the majestic edifice. The long, diagonally running courtyard, which is peculiar to the centre of Łódź and reaches deep into the quarter, became a pretext for our artistic arrangement. We complemented the space with an illuminated fountain with sculptural accents inspired by the city’s industrial DNA and numerous plantings – each of our investments has a ‘green feature’.
Our aim was to add an interesting yet beautiful chapter to the history of this unique property. The rapid and complete sell-out of the residential and commercial units, the unwavering interest of the media and influencers, and the frequent visits of tourists are our best guarantee of success.
Early years
At the beginning of the 19th century, the plot at 37 Piotrkowska Street was part of the urban plan of the New Town, a project created by engineer Jan Pomianowski. Initially, a modest wooden house was located here.
Rise of the tenement
In 1894, the plot was purchased by Dawid Szmulewicz. In 1903 he commissioned the well-known architect Gustav Landau-Gutenteger to design a new townhouse in the fashionable Art Nouveau style. The project was realised in 1904.
Interwar period
After the end of the First World War, the townhouse passed into the hands of new owners. The building served both residential and commercial functions, housing various shops and service establishments.
World War II
During World War II, the tenement was used by the German occupation authorities. After the war, the building was nationalised.
The post-war years
In 1945, the first book lending library for children and young people in Lodz was opened in the tenement. In the following years, the building underwent various renovations, adapting to the changing needs of residents and users.
Modernity
After the political transformation in 1989, the townhouse underwent extensive renovation. Today, it is a place that combines residential, office and commercial functions. 37 Piotrkowska Street is part of a vibrant street that attracts both residents and tourists.
A new page in history
The tenement house at 37 Piotrkowska Street is not only a building, but also a testimony to the rich history of Łódź. From the times of intensive industrial development, through the difficult war years, to the present day, it is a symbol of change and permanence. Each stage of its existence reflects the dynamic fate of the city and its inhabitants.
Lighting up Łódź: From paraffin lamps to electric light
‘Lamplighter’ and the history of the Łódź power industry
In front of the building at 37 Piotrkowska Street stands the ‘Lamplighter’, a monument commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Łódź power industry, which fell on 18 September 2007. The statue depicts an electrician standing on a ladder supported by a pole, next to which lies a bag which is also a seat-lamp. It was unveiled on 21 September 2007. The monument stands in front of the former shop window of the ‘American Diamant Palace’, which on 7 May 1906 was lit up for the first time in Łódź by electric light from the ‘Provision I’ located in the basement of the Grand Hotel. The monument is part of the Gallery of Great Lodzers, whose author is Marcel Szytenchelm.
In 1872, the first private electric lamp shone in Piotrkowska Street, installed by the factory owner Ludwik Meyer in the basement of the Grand Hotel. The first street electric lantern was put into operation on 2 August 1887, at the same time serving as an advertisement for the hotel. Residents had to wait two decades for the next electric lanterns. In 1895, the German joint-stock company ‘Siemens & Halske’ applied for a city-wide power station, but it was not until 1906 that the St. Petersburg Electric Lighting Society installed the first low-voltage cable, which powered the site at 37 Piotrkowska Street.
The first urban electric lamps appeared in Łódź in 1908, after the expiry of the concession of the Łódź Gasworks. The first four lanterns stood in the New Town square, and a year later dozens more were installed in Piotrkowska Street. Previously, Łódź had been illuminated by paraffin lanterns and revetment lanterns, which were lit from dusk until 1am.
Gas street lighting was introduced in 1869. Wiliam Cartwright Holmes et Co of London was contracted to build the gasworks, which was completed in 1869. 200 lanterns were installed, including 89 on Piotrkowska Street. By the end of the 19th century, the number of gas lanterns was increasing, reaching 643 in 1891. In the 1880s, factory owners introduced gas in their factories, and in some places, such as luxury villas and theatres, electric lighting was also used.
In 1906, the St Petersburg ‘Electric Lighting Society 1886’ set up a temporary 60 kW power station at the Grand Hotel, and in September 1907 the power station on Market Street began operating. By 1914, the number of electricity consumers had risen to 7642. The first electric lanterns appeared in the New Market Square, and by 1909 there were 86 electric lanterns in Łódź, rising to 163 in 1914.
Most of Łódź’s streets continued to use gas lighting. In 1904 there were 1,907 gas lamps in Łódź, rising to 2,313 in 1909. In 1912 gas lamps illuminated only the section of Piotrkowska Street from Main Street to the Upper Market, while the rest of the city gradually switched to electric lighting.