Piastowski Square in Bydgoszcz

1889[6]

Eclecticism

The first owner of the building at Elisabeth Markt 10 was August Zuß.[7]

• 
  Main elevation from the square

1872[6]

Neoclassical architecture

The first landlord who lived at originally Elisabeth Markt 11, in the 1890s, was Auguste Raabe,[8] having business in shipping till the end of World War I.

The edifice, unfortunately, lost all its neo-classical features with time. A recent renovation occurred in the late 2010s.

• 
  View of No.2 and No.4 in 1900
• 
  N2 and N4 after renovation

1878,[9] rebuilt by Jan Kossowski (1939)

Eclecticism

Original address was Elisabeth Markt 9, it has been ordered by Julius Gendal,[9] who then moved to No.4.

Today the elevation displays a modern style, as a consequence of the rebuilding by Jan Kossowski, who also realized in Bydgoszcz, among others the Freedom Monument and houses at Ossoliński Alley No.5 and Plac Wolności 7.

• 
  Current facade on the square

1895-1896[6]

Eclecticism

Original address was Elisabeth Markt 12: its first owner was a wood manufacturer, Julius Gendal.[9]

The main elevation displays its original architectural details, in contrast with No.2. Facade shows symmetric features, left and right of the main gate, especially stacked balustrade areas, either balcony or loggias on both extremities.

• 
  Main elevation

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.601221, Reg.A/746, December 12, 1971[10]

1913, by Oskar Hoßfeld

Neo-Baroque

The church has been consecrated by Wilhelm Kloske, Gniezno's suffragan bishop on June 19, 1913. Initially, it was reserved for the use of German Catholics, but was opened to both communities, German and Polish, on February 17, 1924.

• 
  View from the square
• 
  Main facade
• 
  Church steeple
• 
  Church nave

1875-1876[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 7, first owner was Carl Teschner, merchant, then member of the city council, co-owner of a brick factory, "Carl Teschner und Wilehlm Vincent" on Allee straße (today Ulica Stroma).[11]

Although deprived from some architectural details, one can still appreciate the symmetric facade centered on the two balconies, the first floor windows with pediments, cartouches, balustrade, and the top thin frieze with floral motifs.

• 
  View of the main elevation from the square

1884-1885[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 6a, first owner was August Kopplow, an administrative assistant.[12]

The main elevation lost most of its architectural features, albeit it has been renovated in 2017.

• 
  Main frontage

1886-1887[6]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 6, the first owner being a rentier, Fritz Dörnbrack, who lived at Elisabeth Straße 11, now Śniadecki Street 37.[13]

The elevation, recently refurbished (2016), shows evident Neo-Classicist features. Symmetry of both facades, plain pedimented windows and carved cartouches with children figures. The main gate is flanked by two lean columns.

• 
  Corner view
• 
  Facade on the square
• 
  Detail of the main gate
• 
  Detail of a window cartouche

East side frontages (No.11a to 17) ca 1912

1902-1903[13]

Eclecticism

First address was Elisabeth Markt 5, the first owner was a rentier, Arthur ßaulini,[14] who resided at neighbouring No.4 (now No.13).[15] In 1910, the edifice moved to the hands of Carl Rose, a famous architect in Bromberg living on Danzigerstraße 29.[16]

The renovated corner house displays several architectural details, characteristic of Eclecticism. One can underline in particular:

• the corner tower, with a large balustrade-corbel featured balcony, topped by a tented roof cupola ;
• bay windows on each facade, with loggias, columns and a pediment showing a floral decorated tympanum;
• round pediments on the first floor, with floral ornament.

• 
  Corner view
• 
  View from the square
• 
  Detailed view from the square
• 
  Detail of the balcony
• 
  Detail of a window balustrade and pediment
• 
  Facade on Chrobrego Street

1893-1894 (No.13)[6]

1894-1895 (No.15) and 1895-1896 (No.17)[6] by Karl Bergner[17]

Eclecticism

These buildings were located at respectively No.4, 3 and 2 of Elisabeth Markt. First owners were:

- August Günther (No.13 and 15), a wood trader, living at No.13;[18]

- Adolf Röhr (No.17) a restaurateur, who ran his business at the same address.[18] Today, the place still houses a restaurant.

The architect Karl Bergner realized these buildings with the same pattern in mind.

No.13 and 15 mirrored each other in perfect symmetry: only some ornamentation details differ. One can appreciate the large gates with a round glass transom light, crowned with a stylish motif and the pedimented first floor windows. No.13 facade retains bit more architectural details, such as additional head figures, and a left part of the elevation with richer decoration (pilasters, stucco ornaments).

No.17 breaks the symmetry, with thicker bossage lines on the ground level and the absence of architectural details present at No.13 and 15. Still noticeable is the main gate with a transom light, flanked by pilasters topped by floral and puttoes motif.

• 
  Facades of No.13 and 15
• 
  Main gates of No.13 and 15
• 
  Detail at No.13
• 
  No.13, left part of the elevation
• 
  Main elevation of No.17
• 
  Main gate at No.17

1875[6]

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 No.27).[16] He also owned the tenement at Śniadecki Street No.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.

• 
  Corner view
• 
  Renovated facade on the square
• 
  Bay window

Registered on Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship heritage list, No.A/1658, May 23, 2014[19]

1896-1897[19]

Eclecticism

The building, then at Elisabethstraße 23 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 24 (No.47).[20]

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.[21] 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.

• 
  Main elevation
• 
  Bear cubs at the balconies
• 
  Main gate
• 
  Top sundial

Late 1880s

Eclecticism

The building at Elisabethstraße 24 was the property of Robert Winkler, a merchant, also landlord of Elisabethstraße 23 (No.46). No.47 was the one he was registered as living in.[20]

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.

• 
  Main elevation
• 
  Gable
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  Main gate
• 
  Detail of the facade

1911-1912

Art Nouveau-Modern architecture

The tenement stands in the corner with Jan Matejko Street. In Bromberg's time, address was Elisabethstraße 25.:[22] owners were registered as "Ms Sendler and Genossen".[22] In 1915, an architect, Walter Findeisen, lived in this house.[22] The building houses today the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bydgoszcz[23]

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 catches 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.[24]

• 
  View from the street before renovation
• 
  Elevation on Jan Matejko Street
• 
  Detail of the upper part of the facade
• 
  Detail of the bartizan

1895[25]

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 27, it was the property of a real estate owner (German: Zimmermeister), Michael Engelhard, living at No.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.

• 
  Main elevation from the street
• 
  Detail of adornment
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  Decorated chambranles of the windows

1899-1900[26]

Eclecticism, elements of Neo-Baroque

Originally at Elisabethstraße 28, it was owned by Friedrich Gerth, a tailor:[26] at that time, he lived at No.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.[27]

Compared to No.53, No.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.

• 
  Main elevation
• 
  Balconies
• 
  Close up view on balcony
• 
  Rosette detail

Late 1870s[9]

Left house: Eclecticism, Neo-Renaissance

Right house: Modern architecture

Original address was Elisabethstraße 29: it was owned by Carl Wilhelm Feyertag, a rentier,[9] living at "Bahnhoffstraße 11" (now Dworcowa Street No.27): he also owned the house at No.19. Since 1956, the left tenement houses the family-run bakery "KP", established in 1922[28] by Franciszek Poćwiardowski. Today the ground floor of the right building houses 1956-established ice cream firm "Lodziarnia Żak".[29]

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.

• 
  Left facade elevation
• 
  Detail of the gable
• 
  Right facade elevation
• 
  Both facades from the street

The square in 1917