Source: Capital Monument Conservator
The mysterious door was discovered during the renovation of the gate tenement house at Kłopotowskiego Street. “Hid” in a niche behind the plywood, once led to commercial premises. They managed to restore their original appearance, they have already returned to their place.
The capital conservator of monuments pointed out that the discovered door was renovated with care and attention to detail. – We managed to preserve and restore characteristic elements, such as fittings in the form of hinges, signs, door handles. The method of original finish was also recreated, i.e. maze, imitating oak wood on a pine foundation – he added.
They were hiding in a gate crossing
For years, no one suspected that the niche in the gate crossing of the tenement house at 38 Kłotowskiego Street may not be just a decorative element. The door in the niche from the journey side was covered with plywood and paintedand from the side of the premises to which they once led, walled up.
Renovation works began with the dismantling of the brick wall covering them from the premises to which they once led. After dismantling and transported to the studio, they were disinfected and disinfected. Then they were demolished into individual elements. – Thanks to this, the parts could be separated to strengthen and supplement from those intended for the necessary reconstruction – explained the conservator.
Source: Office of the Capital Conservator of Monuments
He emphasized that the poor condition of the door was caused by their bricklaying. As a result of the lack of ventilation and strong development of fungi and mold, as well as feeding of insects, some fragments of joinery literally fell apart in their hands.
– The lower door panel, as well as decorative elements around it, was powdered. The lower parts of the frame vertical elements of the frame were completely degraded as a result of the breakdown of brown wood. The upper panel also turned out to be damaged, broken and impossible to save. These elements have been reconstructed. A number of inserts were made, small cavities were confused – told the conservator.
The preserved signboard was used to reconstruct the second, which was cast from brass. It was found on the secondary market and an identical handle was installed. Finally, a reconstruction of the maze imitating oak wood was carried out.
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Inscribed in the Art Nouveau tenement house
The said tenement house is the most valuable monument of the Art Nouveau architecture in Praga North. Established at the beginning of the 20th century, it is considered one of the most beautiful in Warsaw.
In the 1840s at 38 Kłopotowskiego Street, and earlier at 38 Wide Street, there was a stone tenement house Berka Schuldberg. In 1905, Israel Galberg became the owners of the property, who had 56 percent. shares, and his sons Osip Leib and Abraham Hanna, who received 22 percent each. shares.
In the years 1905-1912 a magnificent income tenement house was built here, according to the design of an unknown architect. When Israel died in 1918, his sons became the only owners. However, in 1920 Arnold vel Aria Spinak bought a property in exchange for the debts of his brothers.
Source: Office of the Capital Conservator of Monuments
Until 1939, all apartments were rented by Jews. During World War II, residents were displaced to the Warsaw ghetto, and their place was taken by new tenants. Although the heirs of the property have found themselves in recent years, the matter of ownership of the tenement house is still not clarified and since 1945 the building at 38 Street has been administered by the city. In July 2007, the tenement house was entered in the register of monuments.
Rich in architectural details
On the staircase from Targowa Street there are Art Nouveau doors, as well as the original terracotta floor laid in the form of a chessboard. Next, inside, there is a wide staircase along with spiral stairs.
The fan stairs are put on an ellipse set. They are decorated with winding flowers with an openwork, flat four. The whole is complemented by the motif of Meandera, which is at the base of the balustrade.
Author/author: mg/b
Source: PAP
Source of the main photo: The office of the capital's monument conservator