Department store in Łódź

The department store is a historic, Neoclassical building from the years 1896–1899, located in Łódź on Piotrkowska Street, between plots 114 and 116. Designed by architect Franciszek Chełmiński on the commission of merchant Jonasz Warszawski, it has a rectangular layout and is masonry-built. It is adorned with rich architectural details, such as columns with capitals and stuccowork. The building consists of a ground floor and extensive basements, which served as an icehouse for the market hall. It is distinguished by its windows decorated with semicircular arches and a Roman-style attic on the roof. For many years, it functioned as a market hall housing numerous shops and a soda water factory. After World War I, despite numerous transformations, including the operation of a printing house and a gymnasium, it experienced a revival in the form of the Atlas Sztuki Gallery, which from 2003 organized exhibitions of contemporary art, featuring works by renowned artists such as Roman Opałka and David Lynch. As part of the building's modernization, unfinished clock towers were added, intended to be adorned with electronic clocks. Inside, a thorough renovation was carried out, including window replacements and the construction of a mezzanine. The gallery ended its operations on June 18, 2017, and the building is currently available for lease. In a cultural context, the department store became an important venue for artists and art enthusiasts, attracting diverse events and projects. This historically rich site, which has changed its function over various periods, illustrates the evolution of Łódź as a cultural center in Poland. From an architectural perspective, its ornamentation and style exemplify Neoclassicism, making it a noteworthy landmark in the city.