Right here stands the Pałac Teppera-Dückerta a rococo palace with a rich history. It’s also known as the Palace of the Four Winds. Its story began in the late 17th century.
Stanisław Kleinpolt a royal secretary initiated its construction. It was likely designed by Tylman van Gameren around 1680. Kleinpolt was a high official. He certainly envisioned a grand residence.
Over the years the palace changed hands several times. In 1685 Jan Dobrogost Krasiński acquired it. Later in 1698 Andrzej Chryzostom Załuski became the owner. In the early 18th century it belonged to Andrzej Stanisław Kostka Załuski the Bishop of Płock.
In the 1730s Franciszek Maksymilian Ossoliński took possession. Then Michał Kazimierz “Rybeńko” Radziwiłł became the proprietor. Radziwiłł reconstructed the palace in the rococo style. Johann Sigmund Deybel probably designed the reconstruction. This gave the palace a new look.
The magnificent sculptures are a key feature. The Four Winds Notus Boreas Zephyrus and Eurus stand atop the fence posts. These sculptures date from that period. The artist remains unknown. However they likely contributed to decorating the Saxon Garden.
In 1769–71 Szymon Bogumił Zug rebuilt the palace for Piotr Tepper. The right wing was widened. A new annex was erected adjacent to ulica Długa. It featured an early-classicist front elevation. Tepper was a famous Warsaw banker. He was considered the richest Polish financier of the late 18th century.
Karol Fryderyk Dückert purchased the palace at auction in 1801. His heirs owned it until 1891. From 1808–1914 it operated as the Hôtel de Dresde. This was an elegant hotel. After World War I the palace declined. It became a tenement house.
The Polish Treasury purchased the palace in 1927. It was restored. It then became the seat of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. During the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 the Germans deliberately burned the palace.
The name “Palace of the Four Winds” comes from statues. They represent the Greek gods of wind. These statues are Boreas Zephyr Notos and Euros. They stand on the main gate pillars.
After the war the palace was rebuilt between 1949 and 1951. The renovation was based on late 18th-century plans. Ludwik Borowski oversaw the restoration. Today the building houses departments of the Ministry of Health.
The Pałac Teppera-Dückerta stands as a testament to Warsaw’s resilience. It reflects changing architectural styles and historical events. From royal secretaries to wealthy bankers each owner left their mark. The palace has been rebuilt and restored showing Warsaw’s enduring spirit.