Jan and Jędrzej Śniadecki Street in Bydgoszcz

Location

Śniadecki Street is oriented east-west and provides a link between Gdańska Street, Bydgoszcz in the east and Dworcowa Street in Bydgoszcz to the west. It crosses an important city plaza, Piastowski Square (Polish: Plac Piastowski).

The presence of the Brda hotel practically closes the western tip of Śniadeckich Street to traffic with a final very narrow section.

Naming

Through history, this street had the following names:

Current patrons of the street are brothers Śniadecki: Jan an astronomer, and Jędrzej a doctor, biologist and chemist. They were born in Żnin and both taught as professors at Stefan Batory University of Vilnius in the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century.

History

The street was defined in the mid-19th century. As a consequence of the set up in 1851, of the railway station (Polish: Bydgoszcz Główna) in the north-west of Bydgoszcz, an intensive urban development happened in order to connect this area with the historical heart of the city, Gdańska Street. It is the same process that led to the development of nearby Dworcowa Street. At that time, the street was named Elisabethstraße, along with Elisabethmarkt (now Piastkowski Plac) the plaza it crossed to the north, in honor of Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, wife of the reigning the King of Prussia Frederick William IV of Prussia.

On this axis have been erected also religious edifices, such as in 1910-1913 the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on Elisabethmarkt, or the Church of the Resurrection in Elisabethstraße.

The importance of this avenue slowly decreased with the growing role that took Dworcowa Street, parallel to the south, but broader and larger, which had been used since 1888 by a newly built streetcar.

Main places and buildings

Marian Rejewski Square, at crossing with Gdańska Street

2005

This small green area has been named after Marian Rejewski, an eminent mathematician born in Bromberg on August 16, 1905. In 2005, Bydgoszcz municipality unveiled a memorial by Michał Kubiak in this square to celebrate the centennial of Rejewski's birth. It resembles the Alan Turing Memorial in Manchester unveiled in 2001.

Villa Aronsohn, Śniadeckich Street N°1

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°601416-Reg.A/889, June 15, 1993

1866

Neo-renaissance

Lewin Louis Aronsohn was a famous banker, Jewish active member, politician and philanthropist. A recent restoration occurred in January 2016.

Moritz Ephraim tenement, Śniadecki Street N°2

1905, by Fritz Weidner

German historicism

The tenement has been delivered on August 25, 1905, to Moritz Ephraim, a rentier. The address was then Elisabethstraße 56. Architectural characteristics of the facade are very similar to his house at Gdańska Street N°34 that he realized the following year (1906).

This building housed from 1910 Pianoforte-Magazin, the show-room of Bruno Sommerfeld, an eminent piano-maker from 1905 to the start of World War II. His first workshop was at N°22 and at his climax, Sommerfeld industry was the largest factory of pianos and wholesale in Poland (1920-1939).

The side house on the right, now gone, located at the corner with Gdańska Street, was the birthplace of artist Walter Leistikow.

Tenement at N°3

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°601419, Reg.A/1098/1-2, April 4, 1994

1876

Eclecticism

The ensemble, at then Elisabethstraße 2, was first the property of Robert Frenmark, an army Major. It comprises also a small building on the other side of the gate.

The facade boasts consoles or pediments on top of each windows. A continuous frieze adorned the top of the elevation, running also along the slight avant-corps on the right side.

Tenement at N°4.

1891-1893, by Fritz Weidner

Eclecticism-Neo-baroque

One of the most beautifully restored house in 2009. The address at its inception was then Elisabethstraße 55. In 1900, it was the property of Max Zweininger running a famous hat manufactory in Bromberg in Focha street N°2.

The facade teems with architectural details: from the delicately adorned main door, topped by an ornament with a mask and vegetal motifs, part of the bay window crowned by a wrought iron balcony, to windows cartouches and pediments, including shed dormers on the gable.

Albert Jahnte tenement, Śniadecki Street N°6

1892-1893, by Karl Bergner

Eclecticism-Neo-Gothic

The architectural style of the facade is pretty similar to the adjacent one at N°4. The first landlord was a merchand, Albert Jahnte. The address of the house was then Elisabethstraße 54.

The facade, although in a bad conservation state, still displays nice a beautiful gate, flanked by pilasters and topped by a lion head. Openings are all ornamented with garland-shape pediment, an ogee gable bearing a Hermes head crowns the edifice.

Tenement at N°7

1884

Eclecticism-Neo-Renaissance

The first landlord was Herman Marckmann, a baker. The address of the house was then Elisabethstraße 5. Herman Marckmann was also owner of the tenement at Elisabethstraße 5a, now N°9. he lived there until the end of World War I.

The elevation is rather simple with regards to architectural details: long vertical lines are contested by a long horizontal frieze at the top and simplistic pediments at windows, as well as a slight avant-corps to highlight the gate.

Tenement at N°8

1888

Eclecticism-Neo-baroque

The site has been vacant till 1887: the landlord was the owner of tenement at N°6, Albert Jahnte. The address of the plot was then Elisabethstraße 53. Since May 18, 2014, the building houses a temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The frontage onto the street may seem rather limited, the house area however is more than 310 m². Wrought-iron works worth noticing are present on top of the gable and around the balcony crowning the avant-corps.

Karl Bergner tenement, Śniadeckich Street N°10

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°601420, Reg. A/1065, June 28, 1995

1895-1897, by Karl Bergner

Eclecticism-Neo-Gothic

The architect Karl Bergner moved there after completion of the building at Elisabethstraße 52a, leaving his previous realization he was living in with his family in Gdańska Street.

Elements worth noticing are the adorned gate, the ground floor loggia topped by a terrace and the majestically decored bartizan crowned by a finial.

August Freitwald tenement, Śniadecki Street N°12

1892-1893, by Karl Bergner

Eclecticism-Neo-Renaissance

August Freitwald, a master shoemaker, lived there, then Elisabethstraße 52. He owned this tenement along with building on the left, now N°14 and 16. In the 1920s, the tenement was inhabited by displaced Poles that left former eastern territories as a consequence of the Peace of Riga: nobles, doctors, officers. Among them were Wiktor and Anna von Helmersen: she set up a Charity kitchen (borderland cuisine) for these refugees, changed in 1927 to Kitchen for the indigent (Polish: Kuchnia dla niezamożnej inteligencji). Premises were first located at Pomorska Street N°5, then moved to Cieszkowski Street N°17.

The balanced facade is underlined by bossage, a bay window enhanced by corner columns and topped by a small terrace, and two series of openings (left and right) adorned with columns and lintel on the first floor and with pilasters and pediment on the second floor.

Tenement at N°13/15

1880

Eclecticism

The building at then Elisabethstraße 7 has been owned by rentiers for a long time in the late 19th century, in particularly the Wolter family.

The facade features are stressed by two bay windows with balustrade, various window pediments and delicately adorned cartouches displaying sitting figures.

Tenement at N°18, crossing with Pomorska Street

1893

Eclecticism-Neo-Renaissance

August Freitwald, a master shoemaker, owned this building which address was then Elisabethstraße 51 until 1910.

The architecture reflects main features of end of 19th century Eclecticism, so present in the streets of Bydgoszcz (e.g. Dworcowa Street, Gdańska Street). One can notice a lot of motifs adorning windows, those on the first floor are topped with triangular pediments containing angel faces. Corbels are present on the second floor and at the top of the facade, supporting the roof.

Tenement at N°20, corner with Pomorska Street

1891

Eclecticism-Neo-Renaissance

August Freitwald, a master shoemaker owned this building which address was then Elisabethstraße 50, also landlord of N°18.

The architecture of N°20 mirrors somehow the one of the tenement across the street at N°18: main differences are located on the corner with a grand pediment crowning the top and a large bay window-balcony over the main entry. The topping pediment has a globe with the house completion date.

Tenement at N°22

1896

Eclecticism, forms of Art Nouveau

Gustav Stöckmann,a carpenter, owned this building which address was then Elisabethstraße 49.

The facade of this building is quite different from its neighbouring, due to its specific features: three wrought-iron balconies, two horseshoe arches gable balancing the facade ensemble and a large top-round stylized portal. Few ornaments enrich the elevation, except two cartouches below first floor windows, displaying rosettes and vegetal motifs.

Tenement at N°23

Modern architecture

Almost nothing remains from the original 19th century building located at this place, Elisabethstraße 10. Apart from a tenement, there was from 1910 on a Protestant house of prayer, run by sextons (German: küster). After World War II, and till the mid-1970s, cinema Griffin (Polish: Gryf) filled the premises. After, it was a soldier's entertainment house before becoming the seat of a bank at the end of the 1970s.

Tenement at N°25

1911, by Georg Baesler

Eclecticism-Historicism

At the time of its erection, buidlging's address was Elisabethstraße 10.

The facade boasts elements of various architectural styles: bay windows, balconies, cartouches with ornaments, steep gables on both sides and dormers. Beside this tenement, the small single-storey house with a gable roof on the right dates back from the days when construction of the district started (1880s).

Carl Mauwe Tenement, Śniadecki Street 29

November 22, 1902, by Fritz Weidner

Secession

The building at Elisabethstraße 13/14 was commissioned by Carl Mauwe, a photograph.

The elevation displays Art Nouveau characteristics cherished by Fritz Weidner: asymmetrical composition (bay window vs balconies or dissymmetrical wings), wavy lines, decorative motifs. Worth mentioning are the portal with stylized woman figure, floral decor, a putti scenery and the wattle and daub roof top crowned with a finial.

William Wick Tenement, Śniadecki Street 30

1889-1890, by Józef Święcicki

Historicism- Forms of Northern Mannerism

William Wick, a railway official, ordered this building to Józef Święcicki in then Elisabethstraße 47a. In 1897, ground floor space has been re-arranged to house a commercial activity. In the courtyard of this building, Bruno Sommerfeld, an eminent piano-maker, opened in 1905 a locksmith's shop which soon started repairing keyboards (German: Reparaturwerkstatt). In 1910 he opened at Śniadecki Street N°2 his first show-room, and, with his growing success, he opened other locations in Bydgoszcz (Jagiellońska st. N°92 as main factory and Willi Jahne's shop at Gdańska st. N°42), as well as branch offices in Warsaw, Poznan, Katowice, Lodz and Gdańsk.

Facade architecture is noticeable by its bossages, ballusters on first level windows, which are topped by heavy corbels crowned by triangular pediments. The second floor is more simple, with decorative motifs on top of overtures, whereas third level displays ornaments. All windows are flanked with rectangular pilasters.

Tenement at N°31

1870

Neo-Renaissance

The building at Elisabethstraße 15/16 was owned by Carl Buhrand, a merchant. Its designer Anton Hofman was the stepfather of Bydgoszcz architect Józef Święcicki.

The elevation is parted in two different height facade by the section standing above the passageway, which is adorned by long pilasters, flanking a window on each level. These openings are ornamented as well by pilasters and pediments. A corbel table crowns the top.

Tenement at N°35

1880

Eclecticism

First landlord of the building at then Elisabethstraße 18 was Gustav Schmidt, a restaurateur, who lived there until the beginning of World War I.

The tenement is particularly noticeable by its grand bay window overhanging the corner: first floor is adorned with columns, rosettes on the lintel and a triangular pediment, second displays pilasters crowned by a tented roof. The facade on Śniadecki Street is ornamented likewise, in addition to two large wrought iron balconies.

Polish Catholic Church of the Resurrection, Śniadecki Street 36

1864-1892, by Józef Święcicki

Historicism- Forms of Neo-Gothic

The Polish Catholic Church of the Resurrection is a temple following Old Catholic Church beliefs, gathering approximately 300 families. The church was built in 1864 as a house of prayer for New Apostolic Church: it was the first religious building constructed in what is now downtown. The designer of the building is not known. In 1892 the church was expanded with side chapels. Until 1945 it served the New Apostolic Church German-speaking religious community. In 1946 the municipal authorities allocated the temple to the Polish Catholic Church (Polish: Kościół Polskokatolicki w Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej), parish in Bydgoszcz which existed since 1925, but had no official location. In the 1950s, a modernization work has been carried out, especially to the external facade of the church, between 1978 and 1979 a renovation of interiors happened. In 1982, a new rectory has been built beside the church.

The church is oriented to the north, presenting its main elevation to Śniadeckich street. Next to typical Gothic forms are also Italian architectural features: rosette windows, friezes running under cornices and a gable facade. The external decoration is balanced and unsophisticated. Interiors comprise a matroneum and a wooden ceiling. Medieval style of the temple boasts buttresses, pointed windows, an entrance portal, pinnacles and cross-ribbed vaults chancel. Noteworthy are the Tudor-type arches of the nave.

Albert Voigt tenement, Śniadecki Street N°38

1893, by Józef Święcicki

Historicism- Forms of Northern Mannerism

Albert Voigt, a railway clerk, ordered this building to Józef Święcicki in then Elisabethstraße 43a. During World War II, this house has been used by Kazimierz Leski and Jan Szczurek-Cergowski to command the western area of Polish Home Army (Polish: Armia Krajowa). A memorial plaque has been placed on the facade in 1992.

The elevation is remarkable with its bossages, ballusters on first level windows, which are topped by heavy corbels crowned with triangular and arched pediments. The second floor is more simple, with decorative motifs and corbels on top of windows. A slight avant-corps underlines the gate and windows topping it.

Tenements at N°39 and N°41

1877-78

Neo-Renaissance

Buildings at Elisabethstraße 20/21 are reported as being held by "M.ß. Engelhard, Zimmermeister" (room manager). From the 1890s to the outbreak of World War I, a series of rentiers owned these buildings.

Although having been constructed according to the same patterns, elevations evolved differently through the years. N°39 still displays its original architectural motifs, in particular the adorned gate, the grand bay window and ornamented cartouches. N°41 facade suffered more, losing its details, but keeping the bay window: a recent refurbishment underlines the quality of the architectural features.

Max Schmidt tenement, Śniadecki Street N°42, corner with Henryk Sienkiewicz street.

1882-1883, by Józef Święcicki

Neo-Renaissance

The building, then at Elisabethstraße 42a, was a commission from Max Schmidt, a teacher. It is the first realization of Józef Święcicki together with his stepfather, Anton Hoffman, a master bricklayer.

Recently renovated, the elevation boasts neo-Renaissance forms inspired by the Italian Cinquecento: bossages and simplicity of motifs renders perfectly the symmetry of this house. In the corner giving onto both streets, a remarkable bay window on two levels, flanked at each floor by lean columns emphasizes this portion of the facade. In his next realizations, Józef Święcicki will elaborate further on his architectural style, adding more details and features, like building at Tenement at Freedom Square 1 (1896) or at Stary Port N°1/3 (1893-1905).

Tenement at N°45

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, N°A/1658, May 23, 2014

1896-1897

Eclecticism

The building, then at Elisabethstraße 23 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 24 (N°47).

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. 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 N°46

1882, Józef Święcicki

Neoclassical architecture, Neo-Renaissance

The building at Elisabethstraße 41 was the property of Max Schmidt: one year later (1883), he commissioned the same architect for the building at N°42. Józef Święcicki realized the edifice on a project by its step father Anton Hoffman.

Beautifully restored in 2015-2016, the facade boasts a ground floor with bossage and a main gate flanked by columns and topped by a triangular pediments, like a temple. Upper floors display typical Neo-Renaissance details, with adorned pediments, pilasters and an inconspicuous figure head in the top triangular gable tympanum.

Tenement at N°47

Late 1880s

Eclecticism

The building at Elisabethstraße 24 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 23 (N°46). N°47 was the one he was registered as living in.

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.

Tenement at N°48

1883, by Józef Święcicki

Neo-Renaissance

The building, then at Elisabethstraße 40, was built for a merchant, Leonhard Fitting. The designer, famous local architect Józef Święcicki, used a project drawn by his stepfather, Anton Hoffman, a master bricklayer. Another merchant, Otto Barth, took over the property at the end of the 19th century.

Recently renovated, the elevation displays nice ornamentation, from cartouches to pediments.

Tenement at N°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: owners were registered as "Ms Sendler and Genossen". In 1915, an architect, Walter Findeisen, lived in this house. The building houses today the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bydgoszcz

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 cathes 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.

Tenement at Piastkowski Square N°19, corner with Śniadecki Street

1882

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 N°27). He also owned the tenement at N°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.

Tenement at N°53

1895

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 27, it was the property of an real estate owner (German: Zimmermeister), Michael Engelhard, living at N°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.

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

1913

Neo-Baroque

This church is considered as one of the most beautiful historicism style churches built in Bydgoszcz at the turn of the 20th century.

Tenement at N°55

1899-1900

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 28, it was owned by Friedrich Gerth, a tailor: at that time, he lived at N°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.

Compared to N°53, N°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 N°57

Late 1870s

Left house: Eclecticism, Neo-Renaissance

Right house: Modern architecture

Original address was Elisabethstraße 29: it was owned by Carl Wilhelm Feyertag, a rentier, living at "Bahnhoffstraße 11" (now Dworcowa Street N°27): he also owned the house at Piastkowski Square N°19. Since 1956, the left tenement houses the family-run bakery "KP", established in 1922 by Franciszek Poćwiardowski. Today the ground floor of the right building houses 1956-established ice cream firm "Lodziarnia Żak".

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.

Hotel Brda

This building, though located in Dworcowa Street, closed Śniadecki Street axis by narrowing its northern tip. The hotel was opened on August 29, 1972. The site has always been a location for such activity, with previous "Heise’s Hotel" (1889), "Hotel zur Neue Stadt" (1891) or "Hotel Nowe Miasto" (1920-1922).

Tenement at N°59

1887

Eclecticism

Original address was Elisabethstraße 30: August Mühlbrad is registered as its first landlord. The tenement was designed as a renting habitation house, having in average a dozen of tenants through the early 20th century. In 1910, it housed a seat of the German insurance company Nordstern (now merged with AXA).

The elevation shows typical Eclecticism-Neo-Renaissance features: adorned cartouches, window pediments and a little triangular tympanum on the gable.