Jakubowicz Family Tenement House

The tenement house at ul. Piotrkowska 145 in Łódź is a residential and commercial building erected in the 1880s for Lewek Jakubowicz, a merchant who ran a leather and leather strap warehouse at this address. It stands on the multi-storey section of the pedestrian thoroughfare, alongside several other tenement houses from the same period of Piotrkowska's expansion.

Lewek Jakubowicz's Leather Warehouse

From the early 1880s the property belonged to Lewek Jakubowicz, who ran a leather and leather strap warehouse at this address. According to a design from 1881 he erected a two-storey front tenement house, and a third floor was added in the 1890s.

Ground Floor Renovation and Expansion

In 1898 the ground floor of the building was renovated: windows and doors were enlarged, a covered balcony was added, the cellars were deepened under part of the house and an attic storey was raised. The house register of 1920 lists brothers Max and Szlama Jakubowicz as owners.

Branch of the Esperanto Society

From 1907 the tenement house housed a branch of the Polish Esperanto Society, which connects the building with a language movement that had numerous supporters in pre-war Łódź.

Earlier Owners of the Plot

Before the property came into the hands of the Jakubowicz family, the still vacant plot had several successive owners: among them were Józef Petzold, Gottfryd Folke, Ignacy Lissner, brothers Józef and Franciszek Fibiger, Edward Hentschel, Krystian Zaleski and Moszek Działowski.

Neighbouring Buildings

The tenement house is adjacent to the Tenement House of Edward Ramisch at number 144.

On the other side stands the Tenement House of Teodor Sieber at number 146.

A few steps further on is the Schweikert Family Tenement House.

In the direction of the city centre stands Reymont's Suitcase.

Practical Information

• Address: ul. Piotrkowska 145, Łódź, Śródmieście [city centre district]
• Getting there: upper section of Piotrkowska, close to tram and bus stops in central Łódź
• What to expect: historic façade viewed from the pedestrian thoroughfare, residential and commercial building in a continuous street frontage