Ghosts of the past linger here. Before us stands the Kamienica Abrama Włodawiera. A building with a story. A building now gone.
This was once a vibrant structure on Łucka Street in Warsaw’s Wola district. Built in 1878 for the merchant Ajzyk Abram Włodawier. It was a two-section seven-axis brick building. Wooden floors and ceilings provided warmth. A residential attic completed its design. An outbuilding originally stood two stories tall. A passageway was located in the fourth axis. Wooden staircases and balustrades once graced its interior.
The Kamienica Abrama Włodawiera didn’t remain in the Włodawier family long. Before construction even finished it was sold to Józefa Koch. Before 1918 the outbuilding was expanded to four stories. The main building gained balconies. Ornate details adorned its facade. Details like capitals and a string course.
The Kamienica Abrama Włodawiera survived World War II. It stood as a testament to resilience amidst the ruins. A survivor of the ‘Wild West’ era of post-war Wola. Sadly post-war changes erased the original facade. Some original features remained. The balconies on the second and sixth axes for example.
This oldest tenement house in Wola held a unique place. In 1992 it gained local landmark status. Later that year it received national monument status. Despite this designation. neglect and legal battles hindered its protection. The building eventually stood empty and vulnerable. Repeated arson attacks further damaged the structure.
The final chapter unfolded tragically. In 2024. the Kamienica Abrama Włodawiera was removed from the register of monuments. Despite attempts to save it demolition began. Police intervention temporarily halted the process. But ultimately the building was largely destroyed. Only fragments remain. A poignant reminder of what was lost. A shadow of its glorious past. A tale of a building that is gone yet its memory lingers. A memory we keep alive with this very story. The story of the Kamienica Abrama Włodawiera.