The building is of enormous supra-regional value.

History

It was built between 1936 and 1937 for lawyer Antoni Ogończyk-Bloch and architect Leon Mazalon who also was the co-author of the design (together with Stefan Koziński). The authors were inspired by the expressionist buildings by Amsterdam school representatives.

Description

The luxurious corner tenement is located in the centre of Gdynia, in Świętojańska Street (eastern façade), at the intersection with Piłsudskiego Street (southern façade). The building was erected on an L-shaped floor plan; the part facing Świętojańska Street has shorter five-storey wing having a rectangular outline, whereas the part overlooking Piłsudskiego Street is a larger six-storey wing with a gateway on the ground floor level. The fifth floor of the wing facing Świętojańska Street was built further back from the rest to create space for a spacious terrace. Each wing has its own staircase and lift. A rounded and glazed corner part used for the so called winter gardens created on all storeys gives the tenement house more modernity and prestige. The façades were painted in light cream, which reflected light. The texture of the plaster was characterised by a strong pattern. The distinctive shape of the building emphasized by a stylistic S-shaped wave of the glazed corner, which smoothly flows into the eastern façade, and the wide southern façade with characteristic rows of "waving" balconies is full of movement and chiaroscuro. The ground floor is a commercial space and was deliberately glazed so as to expose the post-and-beam structure. The building had a gas and central heating system. In addition, it was the first building in Gdynia to have an anti-aircraft and gas cover (O.P.L.G).

The structure can be viewed from the outside. The commercial ground floor is open to the public.

compiled by Dorota Hryszkiewicz-Kahlau, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Gdańsk, 14-11-2014.

Bibliography

• Sołtysik M., Modernistyczna Gdynia-dziedzictwo lat międzywojennych [w:] Renowacje i zabytki 2010, nr 4 (36), s.61-73
• Sołtysik M.J., Gdynia miasto dwudziestolecia międzywojennego, urbanistyka i architektura, Warszawa 1993;
• http://pomorskie.travel/Odkrywaj-Dziedzictwo_kulturowe-Zabytki_architektury Domy_i_Kamienice/4807/Kamienica_A_Ogo_czyka_Blocha_i_L_Mazalona
• http://www.gdynia.pl/wszystko/o/gdyni/historia/5637_37.html