Before you stands Willa Odpoczynek a hidden gem. It’s more than just a building. It whispers tales of a bygone era.
Willa Odpoczynek located on the border of Skolimow and Konstancin. It stands where Graniczna and Szpitalna streets meet. For decades its ground floor housed a popular grocery store. Most people knew it for that. Few knew its fascinating history.
Built before 1914 Willa Odpoczynek boasted Polish and Russian inscriptions. These read simply ‘shop’. The land belonged to Konstanty Muller early in the 20th century. Whether he built the house remains a mystery. Another possibility is an earlier owner. An old photograph from 1944 calls it ‘Granke’. This might refer to Graniczna Street. It could also be a clue to a previous owner. A possible lead is Aleksander Granke. He was a pre-war director and owner of the Warsaw Jan Kerntopf piano factory. In 1910 he built a different guesthouse ‘Irena’. This is located further down Kraszewskiego Street. Perhaps he also owned Willa Odpoczynek. That would neatly explain the ‘Granke’ name. More research is needed to uncover the full story.
Willa Odpoczynek functioned as an unusual guesthouse. Access to the rooms on the upper floors was unique. A garden tower served as the sole staircase. Small ladders led from the tower to individual apartments. This provided tenants with a degree of privacy.
The villa has a distinctive ‘oslim grzbietem’ fence. This style was common in the area. A neighboring villa ‘Villa la Fleur’ had the same fence. This suggests a shared owner at some point. After World War II the villa housed cramped apartments. A foreign owner neglected repairs. The shop owners on the ground floor made essential repairs themselves. When the shop moved the future of Willa Odpoczynek seemed bleak. Fortunately the owner of ‘Villa la Fleur’ purchased it. He planned to expand his private museum which already housed Polish and Jewish art from the L’Ecole de Paris school.
Renovations began in 2019. They are far advanced now. To meet museum standards alterations are necessary. The architect firm ebing & partners is in charge. The project preserves the original facade. The tower will become part of a new two-story pavilion. Original features like a tile stove and terracotta tiles will be showcased. This once seasonal villa will become a year-round attraction.
Willa Odpoczynek also starred in Polish films. Scenes in Janusz Majewski’s ‘Sublokator’ (1967) were filmed at its fence. A suicide attempt scene in Krzysztof Zanussi’s ‘Heart in the Palm’ (2008) was also shot here. Its most significant role was in Marta Karwowksa’s ‘Tarapaty’ (2017). The villa even appeared on the film’s poster. Today Willa Odpoczynek stands as a testament to history. It is a symbol of resilience and a stunning addition to Warsaw’s cultural landscape.