Staszica and Paderewskiego streets are 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 Bydgoszcz.
Location Streets stretch on a continuous axis, roughly south–north oriented, running parallel to Gdańska and 20 Stycznia 1920 streets on the west.
Staszica street, is long, from the crossing with Krasiński Street to the southern tip of Paderewskiego street.
Paderewskiego street, long, extends to the north Staszica till reaching the intersection with Chodkiewicza street.
History On an 1876 map by Paul Berthold Jaekel, the pathway is indicated, without any mention of the name. The first map to reference both streets dates back to 1908, under the following calling: Braesicke Straße and Schiller Straße.
In Bromberg address books, both axis are listed from 1905 onwards. During several decades, Staszica street has been part of a longer path, incorporated to now 3 Maja street: till 1860s, this longer track was known as Grostwo (estate), then Hempel estate; identically, from 1914 to 1926, 3 Maja (then Hempel straße) and Staszica (then Braesicke straße) streets were merged under the calling Hempel straße and Ulica Grodztwo.
Paderewskiego street inception was part of a district developed in two plans, one at the end of the 19th century, another in 1903. The concept of this new area was based on a rectangular grid of streets (Gdańska, Adam Mickiewicz Alley, Józef Weyssenhoff Square, Niemcewicza and Chodkiewicza), all located within city boundaries. This district was also convenient by the proximity of the newly built facilities (administrative and educational center), main railway station.
By 2023, Paderewskiego street will be extended to the north by to join the future Music Academy Campus which is planned stand on a three-hectare plot, between streets Kamienna, Chodkiewicza and Gdańska
Naming Staszica street was known as Braesicke Straße, from its construction to 1920 and during German occupation (1939–1945). Mr Braesicke was a mayor of Bromberg from 1890 to 1898.
Current name comes from Stanisław Staszic (1755–1826), a leading figure of the Polish Enlightenment: a Catholic priest, philosopher, geologist, writer, poet, translator and statesman.
Paderewskiego street was called Schiller Straße, from its inception till 1920, and also during German occupation, with reference to German poet Friedrich Schiller.
Patron name refers to Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860–1941), a Polish pianist and composer, politician, statesman and spokesman for Polish independence.
Main edifices
Staszica Street The street, on its first numbers, faces on the east a large green area, Lieutenant Leszek Biały square.
Tenement at Zygmunt Krasiński Street 23, corner with Staszica street
2010, by Budlex
Modern architecture
The plot at then Fröhnerstraße 3 was first owned by Robert Böhme, also landlord of tenement at Nr.21. At the end of World War I, the area has been left abandoned until a first theatre, Paw, was built. It opened on Sunday 8 November 1929Kalendarz Bydgoski 1970 with an 800-seat capacity. It became cinema Appolo in 1931. During World War II, Nazi authorities changed its name to Bidegast. The theatre was renamed Polonia in 1945: it welcomed movies till 31 March 2003.
Once demolished, the place has been housing a new habitation complex, Rubinowy Dom (Ruby House), since 2010.
Tenement at 1
1902–1903
Eclecticism
At its construction, the address was Braesicke Straße 2: house landlord was Albert Sawallich, first evangelical sexton.
Stripped from many original details but a facade cartouche, the elevation still display two bay windows, and a series of dormers topped by finials. Access to the building is allowed through two large decorated wooden doors with transom lights.
Lieutenant Leszek Biały square
This green area is what is left from the urban plan developed in the 1910s by German architect Josef Stübben and called the Sielanka estate (Idyll). At the time this part of the city had not been touched by urban growth, as Gdańska or Dworcowa streets could have been at the end of the 19th century. Sielanka district never included this square as it was a property of Province of Posen () and not owned by the municipality. After the rebirth of Poland in 1918, the area was declared to be constructed, but no project was ever completed. In the 1960s, a memorial has been built up to celebrate the Millennium of the Polish State (). Designed by Polish artist Stanislaw Lejkowski, it was unveiled on 22 July 1967. However, the entire scheme was never achieved: the nest in the tripod was supposed to be crowned with the Piast eagle, which was considered by the communist authorities to be too similar to the symbols used during WWII by the Polish Armed Forces in the West. In 2011, the city had even projects to demolish it, but it turned out to be very expensive.
The site has been given the name Lt. Leszek Biały in November 2013. Leszek Biały was a hero of the Home Army during the Second World War. His father Ludwik lived at 1 Sielanka Street. Under the code name Jakub, he was arrested in February 1945 by members of soviet controlled Ministry of Public Security and was murdered during interrogations on 3 March 1945.
Tenement at 3
1903–1904, by Fritz Weidner
Eclecticism, elements of Historicism and Art Nouveau
The construction of this tenement, at then Braesicke Straße 3, was funded by Prussian city authorities and dedicated for renting (). It housed up to 8 families. After 1918, the building kept its role as city rental flats, under Polish direction. Today, it is part of the network of lodgings offered to Music school students in Bydgoszcz, together with neighbouring building at Nr.7 (at the corner with Kołłątaja street). In the backyard is located an auditorium with 100 seats ().
The building displays a symmetric array of loggias, on both sides of a slight round bay window topped with a wattle and daub gable. There is a wood-and glass gate to the concert hall with a transom light.
High School Nr.6, at 4
Registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Heritage list Nr.601432, reg. A/989, 28 May 1991Załącznik do uchwały Nr XXXIV/601/13 Sejmiku Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego z dnia 20 maja 2013 r.
1910
Eclecticism style
The building houses a Polish high school. The institution is in the vicinity of Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic building, Bydgoszcz Music Academy - "Feliks Nowowiejski" and the Bydgoszcz Music Schools. No far from High School Nr.6 stand St. Vincent de Paul Basilica and Cyprian Norwid High School Nr.1. The building is registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Heritage List.
Tenement at 5
1903–1904, by Fritz Weidner
Eclecticism, elements of Historicism and Art Nouveau
Similar to abutting tenements at Nr.3 and 7, Nr.5, at then Braesicke Straße 4, was funded by Prussian city authorities and dedicated for renting (), housing up to 6 families. After 1918, the building has been managed under Polish direction, under the calling Bydgoszcz Housing Cooperative (). In this building lived one of the first sponsor of the BSM project, Teofil Gackowski
The elevation is distinctive from others in the street by the presence of a triangular bay window topped by a tented roof. In addition, loggias show a more original adornment, including arched tops.
Tenement at 7
1903–1904
Eclecticism
Initial address was Braesicke straße 5: the tenement was owned by the municipality, under the name "City apartment association" () After the restoration of Poland in 1920, it changed to its Polish equivalent structure, . In 1983, it was purchased to the benefit of Bydgoszcz Music Academy - "Feliks Nowowiejski" to house music school departments and lodgings for students. Today, it is part of the network of Bydgoszcz Academy of Music teaching buildings, all located downtown; the tenement includes as well a dormitory. Together with the building at 4 Szwalbego, they offer 90 beds.
The huge building offers sleek facades on both streets. On Kołłątaja street there is a sharp triangular bay window topped by a high oitched tented roof with a finial, and on Staszica street a slight avant-corps topped with curves and simili pilasters. Both sides display a series of shed dormers, as well as entry gates adorned with a large lintel (Staszica street), and lighter one with flower motifs and a woman head (Kołłątaja side).
Ancient shelter for blinds, at 9
Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, Nr.A/1569, 26 August 2010zabytek|kujawsko-pomorskie|issued=1 March 2014
1899–1901, by Karl Bergner
Eclecticism & Dutch Mannerism
Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the edifice at Roonstraße 13/14 was initially conceived as a refuge for blind children (). The initiator of the construction was the director of nearby Educational Centre for Blind Children, Anton Wittig. He organized the "Society for blind people", which, till 1901, collected funds to build a shelter in home Bydgoszcz. The hostel was operational up to 1962, as part of the specialized school. Today the building houses two clinics, Śródmieście (Downtown, 445m2) and Akademicka (Academic, 312m2), and two specialist medical offices for individuals.
In 2015, city authorities have put the building on sale, with an estimated price of 3.5 million PLN.
The building displays eclectic style, with forms referring to Dutch Mannerism. Two other edifices in Bydgoszcz feature such Dutch-mannerist frontages: the former Prussian Eastern Railway Headquarters and the Lloyd palace. Its brick facades are plaster decorated with architectural details. Slight avant-corps, ornamented with bossage, are crowned with volute adorned gables and pinnacles. Windows are topped with cornices. Main entrance on Kołłątaja street bears the inscription "Blindenheim " ("Home for Blind"). It is positioned at the centre of the avant-corps and includes an ornated portal with doric columns.
Paderewskiego Street
Copernicanum building, at 1 Kopernika Street
Registered on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Heritage list Nr.601363, reg.A/784 (5 May 1992)
1903–1906, by Carl Zaar and Rudolf Vahl
Secession Style
The building had many owners: initially a Prussian realschule, then a city high school for mathematics and natural sciences, it housed a military hospital during German occupation. In 1923, to celebrate the 450th anniversary of the birth of Nicolaus Copernicus, the then junior high school adopted his name. The University of Casimir the Great has been the current owner of the edifice since 2005.
Jan Kochanowski Park in Bydgoszcz
1901, by Konrad Neumann
The park is located in an area urbanized at the beginning of the 20th century; it covers 3,15 ha. It hosts an outdoor gallery of monuments of composers and virtuoso, as well as the iconic local statue "The Archer".
Tenement at 1, corner with Adam Mickiewicz Alley
1905–1908,Gminna Ewidencja Zabytków Miasta Bydgoszczy. Program Opieki nad Zabytkami miasta Bydgoszczy na lata 2013–2016 by Paul Sellner
Art Nouveau
Built in the first years of the 20th century on a commission by Wilhelm Knelke, a manufacturer, its first landlord was a rentier, Ferdinand Krauße. In 1908, Mr Friedländer, a banker, purchased the building: his widow lived there till the end of WWI.
This corner building displays typical tin roof above each of its bay windows. The main door features Art Nouveau motifs and patterns.
Woythaler house, at 2
1910–1912, by Julius Knűpfer
Eclecticism, elements of Art Nouveau
David Woythaler commissioned this villa at the beginning of the 20th century: he was the director of one of the largest manufacturers of snuff tobacco in Prussia, located at today's Focha street 18. After the First World War and the re-establishment of Poland, the villa changed ownership. In 1948, a public kindergarten had been