Standing before the Willa Zalewskich, a testament to modernist architecture in Warsaw, you’ll feel a whisper of history carried on the wind. This elegant villa, designed by the renowned architect Bohdan Pniewski in 1931, was once the home of Andrzej Zalewski, Pniewski’s friend. It was a place of refined living, filled with the artistry of the era. The villa’s three floors housed grand rooms on the ground floor, including a spacious hall, living room, a private boudoir, dining room, and even a dedicated library. The basement provided a separate three-room apartment for the servants, while the top floor offered bedrooms with direct access to a large terrace.
The terrace held a unique feature – a colonnade made of intricately crafted copper casings. Inside, the walls were adorned with marble and schalenite, while the floors boasted different types of precious woods. The villa was surrounded by a modernist garden, a creation of Professor Piotr Hoser, a highly acclaimed dendrologist and gardener.
The Willa Zalewskich served as an inspiration for Pniewski’s design of a new wing for the Palace of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new wing almost mirrored the villa’s classic colonnade and the monumental staircase with its elegant balustrades.
But like many grand buildings of that period, the Willa Zalewskich was not exempt from the ravages of World War II. It suffered extensive damage, a stark reminder of the conflict’s impact. However, its beauty was not entirely lost. During the period between 1969 and 1980, the villa underwent a restoration process, returning it to its original form, retaining much of its splendor with a few minor alterations. Today, the Willa Zalewskich stands as a reminder of a bygone era, a testament to the enduring power of creativity and the resilience of history.