Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Here before us stands Willa “U Dziadka” a modernist villa steeped in a rich and often poignant past. This isn’t just a pretty building. It’s a testament to resilience hope and the enduring spirit of community.
Built in the 1920s it initially served as a summer guesthouse for vacationers. It stands as a unique example of modernism in wooden architecture. This sets it apart from Otwock’s more commonly seen Swidermajers. Its cubic form is striking. It’s adorned with bay windows and verandas.
During World War II the villa was taken from its Jewish owners. This was due to their heritage. After the war this damaged and abandoned building and its neighbor “Agatka” became home to the “Swider” branch of the Society of Friends of Street Children. Kazimierz Lisiecki known as “Grandfather” was the driving force behind this. He established the first Warsaw branch in the 1920s using the Journalists’ Club as a base. Soon a network of homes spread across Poland. They functioned under both the occupation and in the Polish People’s Republic. Some relocated after the war.
In 1948 Kazimierz Lisiecki moved into an apartment on the first floor of Willa “U Dziadka”. In 1951 he hired Maria Pilecka wife of Witold Pilecki. Witold Pilecki was a Polish soldier and member of the underground state. He was also a witness to the horrors of Auschwitz. The communist regime murdered him in Mokotów prison.
Over the years “Grandfather” managed to separate the homes from the state’s network of orphanages. He also expanded the property to include 14 hectares of land and two more buildings. These were named “Kacperek” and “Jamnik”.
By 1985 the building became state property through adverse possession. Around 2012 a part of the land was separated. The villa itself was removed from use. Finally in 2019 the National Heritage Institute became its owner along with the surrounding land.
Today careful restoration is underway. Specialists work to preserve as much of the original historic fabric as possible. In 2023 they strengthened weakened structural elements. They also installed a new roof covering. The facades have been restored respecting their historical decorations. Verandas have been meticulously recreated. The original color scheme has been restored. The interior wooden stairs and original doors have been carefully renovated. Missing elements have been recreated in a historically appropriate style. The windows have been restored using all the original hardware. The cellar also underwent preservation work. A new technical building replaces ruined outbuildings from the PRL era. Its architecture and color scheme complement the villa and traditional wooden buildings of Otwock.
Willa “U Dziadka” is a place of quiet power. A place where the echoes of the past resonate. It’s a story of loss resilience and the enduring human spirit. It’s a story that deserves to be heard. And it’s a story that continues to be written.