Bydgoszcz displays an abundant variety of architectures, with styles from neo-gothic, neo-baroque and neoclassicism, to Art Nouveau and modernism; hence its nickname of Little Berlin at the start of the 20th century. The notable granaries on Mill Island and along Brda river also recall a recognized timber-framed characteristics of the city in Poland.
The period stretching from 1850 to the Second Polish Republic witnessed the greatest development of the city. In the mid-19th century, the arrival of the Prussian Eastern Railway () contributed greatly to the development of Bromberg. After WWI, with the re-attachment of the town to the new state of Poland, Bydgoszcz underwent anew a growth, while German residents fled.
Most of the constructions of these time, still preserved today, are linked to a number of architects who left (for a few of them) a profound mark on the current architectural landscape of the city.
Prussian Period (1850–1918) City construction advisors During Prussian Partition, Bromberg fell under Prussian law, in particular regarding construction matter, which was organized with a strictly defined hierarchy. On top were builders and architects with great competences and skills, chosen to act as municipal construction councilors. The position of building consultant was one of the most important in the city administration. This advisor participated in almost all areas of Bromberg public life, from security, transport to urban land management and development. Building councilors supervised all construction activities within the city premises, but also developed plans for official buildings funded from municipal budget. They were independent, but nevertheless cooperated actively in the city council. From 1871 to 1920, Bromberg authorities nominated five municipal construction councilors.
Heinrich Grüder (1871–1877) He succeeded to city building advisor von Müller, who designed the blueprint of the edifice at 9 Jagiellońska street in Bydgoszcz (today, it houses the seat of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Centre for Education and Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Marshal's Office). Heinrich Grüder took up function as municipal construction adviser on November 16, 1871. He was educated as a master bricklayer in Mecklenburg, before moving in 1860, to work for a few months in Vienna. He came to Bromberg via Osnabrück, where he worked as a builder. Little is known about his activities in Bydgoszcz. Grüder is thought to have designed the school building project at 2 Konarskiego street (today Bydgoszcz School of Fine Arts), together with its gymnasium at Nr.4. In the years 1872–1876, he conducted the erection of the Evangelical church on Weltzin Place (nowadays Plac Wolności), on a design by Berlin architect Friedrich Adler. Appreciated for his professionalism, Grüder left Bromberg to Poznań in October 1877 where he worked as city advisor.
Wilhelm Lincke (1878–1885) Wilhelm Lincke was born in 1846, in Magdeburg. He graduated from city high school in 1863. Then, for two years, he attended the Royal School of Fine Arts and the Institute of Crafts for the Study of Architecture in Magdeburg. Later he moved to Berlin: there he studied at the Royal Academy of Construction from 1865 to 1867. Afterwards, he was employed till 1873 on railways projects, building railway stations (Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, Naumburg, Weißenfels) and other technical facilities. In 1870, he took part in Franco-Prussian War. Later, he is found to work in Zgorzelec Municipal Construction Office, then in Wiesbaden (1876). In January 1878, he accepted the position of city construction counselor in Bromberg where he stayed until his death on November 28, 1885, aged 39.
As a construction adviser, he approved a number of private building projects. He had a significant influence on the projects realized at that time, generally referring to Neoclassicism and Neo-renaissance. He is mainly remembered for his work on the reconstruction of the former Jesuit College building, so as to fit the city authorities; he worked on it in collaboration with Albert Rose and Heinrich Mautz. In addition, he was the author of other projects funded from municipal budget: the adaptation and expansion in 1878, of the former monastery of the Poor Clares to house a municipal hospital (today Building of the District Museum in Bydgoszcz at 4 Gdańska Street). He designed the façade with Neo-renaissance and Neo-Manerism forms; the design of the building of the Municipal School for Girls () in 1884, at 5 Konarskiego street (today building of the Catering School of Bydgoszcz); the design of the second city hospital (), at Seminaryjna street (1884–1885), nowadays the Center of Pulmonology of Bydgoszcz.
Carl Meyer (1886–1912) Carl Meyer was born on December 17, 1855, in the family of the manufacturer GL Meyer in Estorf in Nienburg district, Lower Saxony province. After an education in a private school in neighboring Husum, he attended the Royal High School of Verden an der Aller. On October 1, 1875, he was employed in the technical office of the Royal Railway Commission in Hanover, and in 1876, he began studies at the Polytechnic University of Hanover, from where he graduated cum laude in 1880. He was a student of German architects Conrad Wilhelm Hase, A. Schröder and W. Schuch. In 1881, he started a two-year practice in public service in Silesia, in the area of Jelenia Góra, as a construction manager.
At the death of Wilhelm Lincke, Bromberg authorities selected Carl Meyer as his successor on December 15, 1885. He took up the function of city building councilor on January 5, 1886. On November 30, 1891, he entered Janus Masonic lodge, and served as its master from 1907 to 1912. For several years he lived at 60 Gdańska street, downtown Bydgoszcz. At the end of his first contract period, City Council re-elected him on July 14, 1898, for a second term and then on July 14, 1910, for another one. However, Carl Meyer fell ill in the autumn 1911 and had to retire on April 1, 1912. He then left Bydgoszcz for Berlin in 1919 and later returned to his homeland and settled in Hanover. His death date (ca. 1920s) has not been determined precisely. In recognition for his merits, he was twice honored with Prussian state decorations: the Order of the Red Eagle - 4th class (1905), and the Royal Order of the Crown - 3rd class after his retirement in May 1913.
Carl Meyer, during his 26-year long activity as city advisor, had a huge impact on Bydgoszcz architecture and layout, during its expansion bloom (end of 19th – beginning of 20th century). He belonged to the German Union of Architects and Engineers and traveled a lot, not only within the German Empire, but also to Italy and France to learn about new trends in architecture and urban planning. His closest subordinates and associates included people who are authors of many edifices in downtown Bydgoszcz, among others: Wilhelm Stagge (associate from 1881 to 1919), his deputy; Rudolf Berndt (ass. 1888–1890), a master carpenter; Paul Bresgott (from 1891 on), an architect and master mason; Karl Bergner (ass. from 1892 on), an architect, who ran a private architectural office, one of the most popular designers in the city, until 1919 (see below); Anton Kandler, a municipal construction manager (from 1897 on); Richard Köppen, an architect, who worked on city hospital () extension project in 1908; Theodor Patzwald, an architect, building designer of the city fire station in 1909; Otto Brech, an architect, who worked on two main projects, the School of Mechanical Engineering and the Bürgerschule building (today High School Nr.6); Paul Sellner, an architect who designed many tenements in Gdańska Street (see below).
Carl Meyer's style fluctuates around forms borrowed from medieval architecture like Gothic architecture. As a man influenced by Hanover school of architecture, he designed buildings set in the Historicism mainstream, nuanced with Neo-gothic and Neo-romanesque elements.
Carl Meyer's preserved accomplishments in Bydgoszcz
YearEdificeRemarksPicture 1887–1888 Building at 20 Świętojańska street Initially housing Schools for boys and girls (), today one of the site of the Collegium Medicum Faculty in Bydgoszcz. 1890–1892 City Slaughterhouse Slaughterhouse complex (), at 43/47 Jagiellońska street. Today, preserved buildings have been incorporated into the shopping center complex Focus Mall. 1890–1892 Building at 8 Kościelecki Square Originally schools for boys and girls (). Currently the Department of Journalism and Social Communication of UKW. 1891–1892 Carl Meyer tenement Architect house at 60 Gdańska Street. Dutch Mannerism style frontage. Elevation boasts allegory sculptures of Architecture and Construction and MC initials of the landlord. 1896–1898 Building at 5 Sowińskiego street Originally schools for boys and girls (). Currently Youth Hotel for Schools (). 1897–1898 Tenement at 6 Cieszkowskiego street One of the oldest building in the street, with eclectic style. 1899–1900 Bydgoszcz water tower Disused facility at Filarecka street. 1899–1900 Las Gdański water supply station Located at 242 Gdańska Street, initial project by Berlin architect Franz Marshall. Pumping station still operates today. 1900–1902 Tenement at 20 Kordeckiego street Originally schools for boys and girls (), currently a site of the University of Technology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz. YearEdificeRemarksPicture 1904–1905 Gasworks building Located at 42 Jagiellońska street, only the former administrative house is preserved (today the seat of the Pomeranian Gas Company, Branch Gas Plant of Bydgoszcz). 1905–1906 Municipal Market Hall Initially the Prussian fish and meat market (), it is situated at 4 Podwale Street. 1906 House at 5 20 January 1920 street Own ville of Carl Meyer, with a facade style referring to eclecticism and Art Nouveau. 1906–1907 Building at 5 Traugutta street Initially the municipal orphanage established by Heinrich Dietz. Today the seat of institutions dealing with care and teaching. 1902, 1908–1909 Kuyawsko-Pomorskie Center of Pulmonology Initially the second city hospital, it was extended by architect Richard Köppen. 1908–1909 Kuyawsko-Pomorskie Cultural Center Initially an infant dispensary. Situated at 6 Kościelecki Square 1910–1911 Mechanical School Nr.1 Originally the School of Crafts and Artistic Industry (), at 37 Świętej Trojcy street, the project was prepared by architect Otto Brech. 1911–1912 Fire brigade building Located at 16/18 Pomorska Street, the project was developed in 1909 by Theodor Patzwald, under the supervision of Meyer. 1910–1912 High School Nr.6 Originally a citizens' school for Boys (), at 4 Staszica Street, the design was initiated by architect Otto Brech.
Heinrich Rudolf Metzger (1912–1920) Born in Mainz in 1861, Heinrich Metzger graduated from Baukademie in Berlin. He traveled in Prussia for work: in Szczecin in 1885, as an assistant engineer in the municipal waterworks, in Cologne in 1889, as an engineer in the Canal Construction Inspection, then in Toruń in 1891, as city's chief engineer.
In 1894 he took up the responsibility of gasworks director in Bydgoszcz and on October 1, 1894, he took the position of head of the municipal gas plant. While working in Bydgoszcz, he regularly provided his expertise for the construction and modernization of water supply and sewage systems in other cities such as Leszno, Chełmno, Kętrzyn or Kwidzyn. In 1901, he was elected municipal councilor and on July 12, 1912, he was appointed city construction adviser, taking over Carl Meyer. In particular, during his appointment, he developed the project of Sielanka district (Idyll, in Polish) in the early 1910s.