Wilhelma Lürkensa Palace

At Kościuszki Avenue 33/35 stands a Neo-Baroque palace built in 1912–1913 for Wilhelm Lürkens as part of an expansion of his factory complex. The project was designed by architect Alwil Jankau, and the richly decorated façade facing the avenue continues to catch the eye of passers-by, contrasting with the more austere industrial buildings in this part of Śródmieście [city centre].

Palace by the factory

For whom was this building constructed? Wilhelm Lürkens, owner of a nearby factory, commissioned the residence as a complement to his expanding production complex. The Neo-Baroque style, with its elaborate architectural detail, was meant to emphasise the owner's standing among Łódź industrialists of that period.

After the owner's death

What became of the palace after 1929? Following Wilhelm Lürkens' death, the building passed into the ownership of the Textile Industry Association. After the Second World War, it became a meeting place for Łódź's artistic community, housing among others the Ślad Gallery, which for decades changed the character of this address.

Film community club

What function attached itself to the palace for the longest period? Since 1959 it has housed a venue known as Spatif, once an elite meeting place for Łódź's artistic and film circles, most popular in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1990s, following the closure of the Film Studio, the club shut for a time, but eventually activities resumed at this location.

Façade with detail

What can be seen today from street level? The palace's form retains its Neo-Baroque character, with rich stucco detail on the front elevation. The building is entered in the heritage register under number A/92, with an entry date of 20 January 1971, confirming its value as one of the more important examples of Łódź's pre-First World War residential architecture.

Surroundings

Several hundred metres further on stands the Monument to Łódź Citizens, and nearby you can also see the Ferdynand Klosse tenement, the Maksymilian Goldfeder Palace and the former Hotel Victoria, further traces of the former buildings in this part of Śródmieście.

Practical information

• Address: Tadeusz Kościuszki Avenue 33/35, Łódź, Śródmieście district.
• Getting there: by tram or bus to stops on Kościuszki Avenue, then on foot.
• What to expect: the building is occupied by a catering establishment; the façade and architectural detail are viewed from the street.