Malachowskis Palace and House of Roesler & Hurtig Co.

Malachowskis' Palace and House of Roesler & Hurtig Co.

Main data:

Year of construction: about 1745 (the Palace), 1784-85 (the House)
Year of reconstruction: 1949
Designer: the Palace: unknown, conversion of the Palace: Jakub Fontana (?), the House: Szymon Bogumił Zug, reconstruction: Zygmunt Stepinski (both buildings)
Location: ul. Senatorska 11, ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 79

Propably not many people know, that the House of Roesler & Hurtig company, located at the corner of Krakowskie Przedmiescie and Miodowa streets, is a prototype of today's supermarkets. This is where the first real department store in Warsaw, in the end of 18th century, was located.

Malachowskis Palace and the House of Roesler & Hurtig company is the complex of buildings situated at the northern side of Miodowa Street, between Krakowskie Przedmiescie and Senatorska. Malachowskis Palace is a baroque building, which was constructed about the middle of 18th century for Jozef Benedykt Loupia - the president of Warsaw at that time. In the second half of 18th century the palace was reconstructed for the Great Chancellor of the Crown, Jan Malachowski (probably basing on the project by Jakub Fontana) - this is where the name of the palace came from. The palace had a courtyard from Krakowskie Przedmiescie street and two wings. The area of the palace was previously very imposing - two gates led to the courtyard and there was even a fountain behind them.

In 1784 the palace was purchased by "Roesler & Hurtig" company, which was kept by three tradesmen: brothers Jan Michał Roesler and Franciszek Leopold Roesler, together with Gaspar Hurtig. In years 1784-85 the gate and side wings were disassembled, and a tenement house was built at the courtyard. It became the first department store in Warsaw. Shopwindows, which were arranged here, were a kind of newness at that time. The shop was located only on the ground floor, higher there were luxurious apartments for rent.

In years 1886-88 Miodowa street was extended to Krakowskie Przedmiescie, the southern elevation of the palace was uncovered then, also an annexe between it and the house was constructed, the northern frontage of Miodowa street was formed in this way.

The buildings were destroyed in 1939, their reconstruction took place in years 1948-49. They were reconstructed in a form from 18th century, without annexes and side wings, a small courtyard was formed between the house and the palace.