Rafał Sachs Tenement House in Łódź

The Rafał Sachs Tenement House, located in Łódź at 44 Piotrkowska Street, is a building of exceptionally rich history and architectural value. Inscribed into the register of immovable monuments of the Łódź Voivodeship on January 20, 1971, under number A/43, and into the Municipal Register of Monuments of the City of Łódź (number 962), the tenement was built in the second half of the 1860s. Historically, the property encompassed a larger plot, which had previously been used as a single-story house. Rafał Sachs, who purchased the tenement in 1868, was an entrepreneur associated with the chemical industry, producing, among other things, paints and matches. After his death, the property passed into the hands of his family and then several financial institutions, which testifies to its importance in the economic life of Łódź at the time. The architecture of the Sachs Tenement is eclectic, combining elements of classicism and Renaissance. It features a harmonious facade, three risalits, with the central one adorned by a balcony and a triangular tympanum. The elevation is decorated with pilasters with composite capitals, and the ground floor is partially rusticated. A frieze with rosettes and plant motifs running between the stories and decorative cornices above the windows give the building an elegant appearance. The tenement's gateway is semicircular, emphasizing its architectural finesse. An interesting fact is the connection of the tenement with the figure of Rafał Sachs, who not only ran his own business but also contributed to the development of the chemical industry in the region. The tenement not only symbolizes the rich history of Łódź but also reflects the lifestyle and aspirations of its inhabitants in the 19th century, remaining an important point on the city's architectural map.