ABSTRACT
Krakow town houses dating from the turn of the 20th century combine a local tradition with tendencies popularized in major European cities (i.a. Vienna, Paris, Berlin). They present stylistic diversity and individualization of the arrangement of their facades. Many of town houses were apparently influenced, among others, by the then important Vienna school. The decorations combine both the typical geometrical motifs of the Wiener Secession and plant motifs that were usually limited to clearly separated spaces. The influence of the Wiener Secession can be seen in geometrised forms, especially in the motif of a circle with three vertical strips, where the middle strip was often the longest one. In many Krakow structures the impact of Wagner’s works is visible – this refers, among others, to the method of arrangement of decorations on the façade (the “floating” façade), in the selection of forms, such as aluminium pins (dots), geometrical divisions (checks), the attic consisting of the simple sectional form supplemented by an iron guard-rail fixed on bricked brackets over the eaves, the window joinery with square divisions (the Quadrastil promoted by the Wiener Werkstätte), borders of main façade fields, the graphic treatment of bars between windows, or the introduction of inscriptions on façades that are used not only because of their symbolic meaning, but also due to the value of their composition and decorations. However, when transplanting the Vienna style patterns, Krakow architects usually „domesticated” them by means of plant motifs. They often made use of plant motifs occurring in that region (chestnut, sunflower, roses etc.). Apart from plant decorations, there are also animal decorations presenting a lion, an eagle, an owl, a spider, a peacock, a donkey etc. Another favourite motif of the secession style was a woman’s head with long hair. Apart from their symbolic meaning, these motifs helped to distinguish town houses from one another and to provide them with unique features. Architects drew inspirations from folk art and made direct use of patriotic symbols, such as emblems or insignia, thereby continuing characteristic cultural traditions of that region in a new form. Krakow town houses were also influenced by Parisian architecture. Some of them have a small gardens inspired by boulevards à redans designed by Eugène Hénarda in 1903. Mansard roofs were used in Krakow too, but not so frequently like in Paris. Brick was combined with ceramics and iron elements (balustrades, anchors and ferrules) on elevations of the houses. The same materials appeared in Krakow as well as inscriptions with the name of designer. Krakow buildings were also influenced by Berliner architecture. The characteristic type so-called the Berliner town house was created in seventies of the 19th century which affected analogous forms in other European cities. Certain universal characteristics, typical for the structures which were repeated in other major cities (i.a. Vienna, Paris, Berlin), can be noted in Krakow town houses; however, at the same time, local and historical tradition popularized some atypical and innovative solutions.
Keywords: Architecture, Town house, Decoration.