The building displays high architectural and urban-planning values and features sumptuous architectural décor of the façades and interiors, in particular on the ground floor, and follows the principles of the Classicist style. The feature is a unique and individualistic example of residential architecture within the historic Żyrardów Factory Settlement.

History

The Tirolian Palace in Żyrardów is located in the centre of the Żyrardów Factory Settlement at 41 Limanowskiego Street. The feature was built in the years 1867-1871 as the first representational building of the Dittrich family erected in Żyrardów. It was built by Karol August Dittrich, an owner of the factory in Żyrardów, for his daughter Anna and her husband Ludwik Marcellin - a merchant of the Austrian descent, who served as director of the factory from 1885. The villa in the Tirolian style (also known as the Marcellin Villa) was supposed to remind Marcellin of his motherland. At the back of the building there is a spacious veranda, whose roof functioned as a terrace for the upper storey in the past. A view of the picturesque garden, full of rare trees and bushes with a wooden gazebo in their shadows, stretched from the glazed veranda. The entire complex is supplemented by a two-storey outbuilding housing stables, utility rooms and guest rooms (at present, it is a neighbouring residential building).The interior of the villa was arranged with glamour. Wooden, elaborately carved wood panelling, walls covered with jacquard fabrics, masterfully-crafted ceilings with ornamental chandeliers, marble fireplaces in the living rooms, stylish furniture, mirrors and carpets were supposed to show the Dittrich family’s wealth. In the palace the family organised business meetings and social balls during which informal decisions concerning the development of the factory and the settlement were made. When the Marcellin family moved out of Żyrardów, the estate had to wait long for new residents. In the interwar period the factory and the palace were owned by a French consortium for some time. After World War II, along with the nationalisation of the plant, it was incorporated into the State Treasury. During the wartime turmoil the palace did not suffer considerable damage. After 1945 it was a seat of numerous social organisations (trade unions, the Women’s League), public institutions (Municipal Library, Healthcare Centre, Voivodeship Department of the Fire Brigade) and editorial team of Życie Żyrardowa newspaper. It is worth noting that in the 1980s the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarność” of the Mazovia Region had its headquarters in the Tirolian Palace. Refurbishment and preservation works were carried out in the years 2007-2013.

Description

The Tirolian Palace was erected as a free-standing building forming a part of the street frontage. A brick, two-storey building set on an elongated rectangular floor plan, resting on tall basements, with two storeys from the west and a glazed vestibule housing the stairs. On the south side the building includes a single-storey kitchen and a wooden, glazed veranda. The corps de logis of the building is covered with a low gable roof with pronounced eaves, resting on projecting rafters and decoratively profiled supports. The annexes are covered with gable roofs. The interior layout is of a two-bay type; the central part includes a three-bay type with a single-bay staircase, a small hall and a large room on the axis, linked by a colonnaded passage with a room in the annex. A winder staircase leading to the first floor is located in the western part of the building. The interiors of the ground floor display partially preserved sumptuous architectural décor. The large room includes a wooden coffer ceiling with panels featuring painted foliate ornaments. The doors include wooden portals. The building’s façades are plastered and exhibit lavish architectural and sculptural decorations. The five-axis front façade includes the main entrance on the axis. The main entrance is framed by a decorative wooden portal. The rear façade includes a faux three-axial avant-corps on the main axis. The building corners are rusticated, while the ground floor features strips of faux rustications. The storeys of the building are separated by a profiled string course and crowned with a dentilled crowning cornice. The walls of the attic are partitioned by narrow profiled lesenes. Window openings are framed by cornices below and above the windows. There is a cornice at the window openings of the first floor with decorative finials featuring plant motifs as part of the meandering ornament. The building also includes decorative woodcarving of the roof and veranda.

The historic building can only be viewed from the outside or can be made available after arrangements with an owner.

Author of the note Katarzyna Kosior 20-10-2017

Bibliography

• Leśniakowska M., Architektura w Warszawie 1918-1939, Warsaw 2006 (edition 3).