History

In the source literature, several dates are mentioned as the date of construction of the villa: 1902, 1903 but also 1907-1908. The building was designed by R. Sokołowski. It was the home to Doctor Jan Rode, the founder of the Tomaszów Hospital, a physician and a famous philanthropist. In the mid-1920s, the building became the residence of the town mayor - Karol Lechowicz. Currently, it houses the Civil Registry Office. From the courtyard, it is adjoined by an office building, which was added in the 1980s.

Description

The building is situated to the south-east of the town centre. It is located near the J. Rode Park, in Św. Antoniego Street, opposite the nearby Evangelical-Augsburg complex. It is slightly set back from the edge of the plot. From the south-west, the villa is adjoined by a modern building which was added to provide office space for the Civil Registry Office.

Eclectic style with predominantly neoclassical elements.

The heritage building was erected on a rectangular floor plan, with its longer side parallel to Św. Antoniego Street. It is perpendicularly adjoined by a modern building, which follows a rectangular floor plan too. The body of the villa consists of cellars, ground floor and a usable attic, added in its central part.

The building was built from ceramic bricks laid with lime mortar. The roof truss is made of wood, assembled using purlins and straining beams.

The elevations have plastered surfaces with horizontal grooves. The window openings are contoured by decorative surrounds. The walls are accentuated with rustication along the edges and are also decorated with a crowning cornice and a plinth. The north-eastern elevation serves as the façade. It is nine-axial. In the central part, there is a portico consisting of two Ionic columns supporting the balcony. The balcony has a baluster railing. The portico is preceded by the main entrance, surrounded by a portal with Baroque Revival decorations. It is filled by the wings of the door, panelled and partially glazed. Above them, there is a semicircular fanlight. The door opening is flanked by two narrow windows. All openings in this part of the building are semicircular. In other parts, the windows are rectangular. The walls in the central part of the elevation are divided by pilasters, on which a frieze with triglyphs is based.

The added attic storey has a triangular top with volutes on its sides. The attic roof is covered with sheet metal. The south-eastern elevation has four axes, with the entrance opening on the leftmost axis. The north-western elevation lacks any openings. The south-western, courtyard-facing elevation was altered by the addition of a contemporary office building, which adjoins the former avant-corps.

The interiors have been modified to serve their current function.

Compiled by Anna Michalska, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Łódź. 24 April 2020

Bibliography

• Tomaszów Mazowiecki, dzieje miasta, Warszawa 1980