20 Stycznia 1920 Street in Bydgoszcz


20 Stycznia 1920 Street is located in downtown district, in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Many of the buildings along this axis are either registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, or part of a historical ensemble of Eclectic and Art Nouveau architecture in the city.

Location

Located in downtown district, the street unfolds on an approximate south–north axis, parallel to Gdańska street on the west and Staszica and Paderewskiego Streets on the east. The southern tip of the street faces the agreeable Jan Kochanowski Park.

History

On an 1876 map by Paul Berthold Jaekel, as well as on an 1880 map, the axis is drawn, without any mention of the name.
The first map to reference the street dates back to 1908, where it is named Goethestraße.
In Bromberg's address books, the lane is mentioned in 1905 as being under construction. The following year only three edifices are listed in Goethestraße :
Thepathway was known as Goethestraße, from its construction to 1920 and during German occupation.
The name referred to the famous German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Current name, 20 Stycznia 1920 Street , commemorates the date of the signature of the Act on citizenship of the Polish State, which came in force on January 31, 1920. By that resolution, Bydgoszcz city became once again part of the Polish sovereign nation.

Main edifices

Bydgoszcz Music Academy building, at Słowackiego Street N°7, corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 Street
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°601404-Reg.A/782/1-3
1904-1906
Neo-Baroque
The building has been initially erected to house the administrative services of the district authorities at the beginning of the 20th century. It now accommodates the seat of the Bydgoszcz Music Academy - "Feliks Nowowiejski".
The edifice presents an eclectic architecture, with a predominance of Neo-Baroque forms.
Tenement at No.2, corner with Adam Mickiewicz Alley
1903, by Rudolf Kern
Art Nouveau
In the 1906's address book, the edifice is identified as new building, belonging to Julius Berger, a merchant and located at then Goethestraße 37.
This corner house displays Art Nouveau features, especially in the ornamental details of the three avant-corps sections, the lean pilasters and the ogee-shape wall dormers. One can also underline the nicely adorned portal.
Oskar Unverferth House at No.3
1907, by Fritz Weidner
Eclecticism
Although registered as a 1905 construction, the building is only listed in 1908. It was a commission from Oskar Unverferth, who ran a furniture factory. The designer was Fritz Weidner, a famous city architect in Bydgoszcz. Oskar Unverferth moved there in 1908 and remained landlord till 1922.
The villa is characteristic of the Landhaus style that Fritz Weidner more than often applied to his realizations in Bydgoszcz. Myriad of architectural details on tits asymmetrical facades, give to the edifice the charm of a country house. The house has been entirely refurbished in 2012.
House Meyer at No.5
1906
Art Nouveau
On the plot at then Goethestraße No.4, Carl Meyer, Bromberg building councilor and designer, had built his own house in the early 20th century. Carl Meyer is one of the most influential architects in the city, from the 1880s to 1912, year of his retirement from his position as building councilor. He lived there until he left Bydgoszcz in 1919.
Reflecting its neighbour at No.3, the villa boasts Art Nouveau references, especially in the embellished portal of the front door, topped by an oval transom light.
House at No.6
1911, by Emil Heydemann
Eclecticism
Hermann Draheim, a rentier, was the first landlord of this tenement in the 1910s, located at then Goethestraße 35.
The facade reminds similar tenements built in Dworcowa Street 45/47 in 1905/1906. Yet, here, architectural details lean on more simplicity in the making and the shape, with less Art Nouveau motifs.
Alfred Schleusener House at No.7
ca 1909
Eclecticism
Built in 1909, as mentioned on the top of the elevation, Alfred Schleusener is the first registered owner in the 1910s. Schleusener was an active designer and builder in Bromberg/Bydgoszcz in the first half of the 20th century.
The villa reflects architectural tendencies on the fringe between Art Nouveau and early modernism.
Dr Graeupner's House at No.8
1906-1907, Emil and Georg Zillmann
Art Nouveau
This edifice has been commissioned by Dr Max Graeupner to Emil and Georg Zillmann, architects from Charlottenburg. It had been accommodating Max Graeupner's clinic, specialized in Women's diseases and obstetrics. He lived at Dantsiger straße 38, today's Gdańska Street 63. After First World War, the building was still used as a medical facility, run by Dr Gliński.
Many elements can be highlighted: a series of floral motifs in the pediments and in cartouches, or the balconies wrought iron
fences, as well as the characteristic Art Nouveau waved lines in the decoration of the street door.
Tenement at No.9
1936-1938
Modern architecture, by Jan Kossowski
Like many other buildings in downtown Bydgoszcz, this edifice is an additional and accurate instance of Polish modernism of the interwar period.
Tenement at No.10/12
ca 1906, by Paul Böhm
Early Modern architecture
On the 1908 Bromberg's address book, Paul Böhm was listed as the first owner of this vast building. Paul Böhm was a prolific architect and designer in Bromberg, between the 1880s and the 1910s.
Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz, at Adam Mickiewicz Alley 2, corner with 20 Sycznia 1920 street
1948-1949, by Alfons Licznerski
Modern architecture
Hieronim Konieczka Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz is the largest and best known theatre of the city. Its current director is Paweł Wodziński.
Petrikowski Tenement at No.14, corner with Zamoyskiego street
1906-1907, by Victor Petrikowski
Art Nouveau
This tenement from 1906 had as first landlord Victor Petrikowski, a carpenter and a construction entrepreneur who designed the current building. In this house lived Edward Woyniłłowicz, a Polish and Belarusian social and economic activist, who left his eastern lands to dwell in Bydgoszcz. He wrote there his memoirs, Wspomnienia 1847-1928.
The edifice has been thoroughly renovated in 2015, preserving its historic Art Nouveau architectural details, alongside its specific decorated interiors.
Tenement at No.16, corner with Zamoyskiego street
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°A/1628/1-2
1910, by Rudolf Kern
Art Nouveau
The building was first the property of the architect who realized it, Rudolf Kern, one of the leading designers in the early 20th century in Bydgoszcz.
This immense edifice, at the crossing with Zamoyskiego street, reveals in particular a large metal roof studded with a corner finial, dormers, a terrace crowning the avant-corps which bottom is pierced by arches to make room for the majestic main entry area. The portal arch is covered on the inside with coffers and displays oval shaped openings so specific to Art Nouveau features.
Tenement at No.17, corner with Adam Mickiewicz Alley
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601456-Reg.A/1080/1-2
1905-1906, by Paul Böhm
Art Nouveau
Paul Böhm, designer, was also the first owner of the tenement, which was split into renting flats.
This corner building is characterised by its towering peak topped with a metal roof. At street level, the fence is adorned with animal figures.
Tenement at No.18
1911, by Rudolf Kern
Art Nouveau, elements of early modernism
The edifice at then Goethestraße 29 have been commissioned by a master mason, Mr Weiss.
The elevation, renovated in 2017, reveals much of a transition of architectural styles common at this period of the 1910s, between early modernism and late Art Nouveau.
Tenement at No.19
1910, by Fritz Weidner
Art Nouveau, elements of early modernism
The initial owner Richard Schramke was a decorator. He tasked Fritz Weidner, trendy Bromberg architect at that time, to realize a large building for renting purposes.
The unbalanced facade, peculiar to Art Nouveau style, is studded with balconies, avant-corps and loggias, but the absence of other detailed motifs challenges the uniformity of the ensemble.
Tenement at No.20
1911, by Alfred Mielke
Art Nouveau
Building commissioner was Max Reschke, a master carpenter who never lived there, but at neighbouring No.22.
Exquisite frontage, refurbished in 2017, displaying the carved door crowned with a curved fan light and several cartouches, rosettes and other motifs in the Art Nouveau fashion.
Tenement at No.21
1912, by Georg Baesler
Art Nouveau
Commissioned by Józef Grabowski, a painter, to Georg Baesler; Grabowski never inhabited there.
Pretty damaged by time, the facade still exhibits nice wrought iron balconies and railings.
Tenement at No.22
1911, by Alfred Mielke
Art Nouveau
Realized after an order from Max Reschke, a master carpenter, also owner of No.20. His widow lived there till the 1930s.
The large facade displays scattered rosettes. Its two massive avant-corps are topped by terraces. One can appreciate in particular Art Nouveau mouldings beneath a balcony, as well as on gable top. The main entrance door boasts a web-shaped transom light.
Tenement at No.23
1912, by Georg Baesler
Art Nouveau
Similarly to the building at No.21, this one has also been commissioned by Józef Grabowski, a painter and realized by Georg Baesler.
Specific to this facade, one can notice two round avant-corps flanking an attractive portal with columns and festoon. Both gables are embellished with floral motif mouldings and a frieze.
Tenement at No.24
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.A/379/1
1911, by Rudolf Kern
Art Nouveau
The first owner was Emil Zemisch, a building contractor.
The superb elevation, renovated in 2017, boasts myriads of Art Nouveau motifs and details, on the avant-corps, the bay-window, or on the gable and the entrance portal.
Tenement at No.25
ca 1910, by Johannes Cornelius
Elements of Art Nouveau
First landlord and commissioner was Herman Pflaum, a master engraver.
The facade is a bit deprived of its original decoration. One can still appreciate some motifs around the entrance door and at the bottom of the avant-corps.
Tenement at Chodkiewicza 14, corner with 20 Stycznia 1920 street
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.A/1384
1907, by Rudolf Kern
Art Nouveau
The first landlord and building commissioner was Friedrich Fiedler, a merchant.
Nicely refurbished in 2016-2017, the tenement exhibits leasing Art Nouveau details with rosettes and mouldings. A superb round gable overlooking the terrace on top of the avant-corps is adorned with representative Art nouveau motifs: a figure head, flanked by vegetal festoons. Likewise, the transom light over the entrance door is surrounded by a moulding with Art Nouveau features.
Tenement at No.27
1910, purportedly by Rudolf Kern
Eclecticism
A merchant, Emil Dittmann, was the first owner of the place. He was still living there in the 1930s.
Rudolf Kern has used the same pattern for both houses at No.27 and 29. Two doors on the street, a gable on the right hand of the facade and a loggia on the left hand. Only alteration regards the bay-window in lieu of an avant-corps at No.29.
Tenement at No.29
1910, by Rudolf Kern
Eclecticism
Alexander Schmidt was the commissioner of the tenement. He was director of the factory Bromberger Maschinenfabrik Hermann Löhnert producing machine tools, established in 1868 in Bromberg.
Rudolf Kern has used the same pattern for both houses at No.27 and 29. Two doors on the street, a gable on the right hand of the facade and a loggia on the left hand. Only alteration regards the avant-corps, where a bay-window is built at No.27.
Tenement at No.41
1936, by Jan Kossowski
Modernism
Jan Kossowski has been a very prolific Polish architect and builder, mainly associated with Bydgoszcz. His professional activity stretches from the interwar period to the 1940s.