The feature functioned as the ministry of treasury. Deputy Prime Minister from the interwar period, Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, resided there. Moreover, the former palace is related to the history of Kościuszko’s Insurrection.

History

The building was erected for the then minister of treasury, Duke Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki, in place of the former Ogiński palace. The author of the major redevelopment that took place in the years 1825-1830 was Antonio Corazzi. When designing the edifice, the architect referred to Italian Renaissance villas through, among others, the use of terraces and arcades. After the demolition of outbuildings, the former palace courtyard was incorporated into the newly created Bankowy Square. Apart from administrative functions, the building also performed residential functions as a residence of the minister of treasury. The feature was redesigned in the 19th century and became a seat of a female gymnasium.

After regaining independence, the edifice was renovated by Marian Lalewicz in the years 1919-1921. The Ministry of Treasury was installed there. In the years 1935-1939 the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Treasury resided in the building. During World War II, the building suffered damage twice: in 1939 and in 1944. It was reconstructed in the years 1950-1954 under the supervision of Piotr Biegański.

Description

The edifice is located at Bankowy Square, between the former seat of the Bank and Stock Exchange of Poland and the palace of the Governmental Commission of Income and Treasury. The building has three storeys and features a highly diversified body, with three pronounced projections in the form of pavilions. The central one, with the height equal to that of the corps de logis, is receded on the uppermost, third storey. Two extreme projections have a single storey structure. The façade of the protrusions are formed by colonnaded and arcaded galleries. On the parterre, the projections are joined by columned links, whose intercolumn is alternately filled with a wall or an open arcade. Viewing terraces are found on the roofs of projections and galleries. Under the crowning cornice of the façade there is a decorated frieze with motifs of griffins and vases. The entire building is covered with a flat roof obscured by a parapet.

The building walls feature four commemorative plaques. The first one from 1952 reminds us about the fact that in 1794, during the Kościuszko’s Insurrection, a Jacobin Club had its sittings there. The second one from 1977 commemorates the hundredth anniversary of the death of Antonio Corazzi, an architect meritorious for Warsaw, who designed this building. The third one from 1998 honours the founders of the Bank of Poland, Duke Franciszek Ksawery Drucki-Lubecki and Count Ludwik Jelski. The fourth one from 2000, with a sculpture, honours Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski, who performed his functions in this building between 1935 and 1939.

The palace is linked to the neighbouring former palace of the Governmental Commission of Income and Treasury. At present, the majority of the edifice is occupied by the Mazowieckie Voivodeship Office.

The building can be viewed from the outside.

Author of the note Bartłomiej Modrzewski, National Institute of Cultural Heritage, Branch in Warsaw 9 April 2018

Bibliography

• Encyklopedia Warszawy, Petrozolin-Skowrońska B. (ed.), Warsaw 1994.
• Kwiatkowska M. I., Kwiatkowski M., Historia Warszawy XVI-XX wieku. Zabytki mówią, Warsaw 1998.
• Mórawski K., Głębocki W., Bedeker warszawski. W 400-lecie stołeczności Warszawy, Warsaw 1996.
• Zieliński J., Atlas dawnej architektury ulic i placów Warszawy. Śródmieście historyczne, vol. I, Agrykola – Burmistrzowska, Warsaw 1995.