The Bechtold Tenement House in Łódź

The Bechtold Tenement, located at 22 Piotrkowska Street in Łódź, has a rich history dating back to the 1850s. Initially, a single-story wooden house stood on plot number 256, which was later replaced by two tenement buildings after the land was divided in the 1860s. The northern part of the property (now 22 Piotrkowska) belonged to Christian Bechtold, while the southern part (24 Piotrkowska) was owned by Heinrich Bechtold. Over the years, the tenement housed various institutions and businesses, including Józef Gebel's pharmacy, Abram Beder's bookstore, as well as representative offices of the Singer and PFAFF companies. In 1914, it served as the headquarters of the Jewish Hairdressers' Trade Union, and in the 1920s, it was home to the Arkadia cinema. Architecturally, the building is designed in the Neoclassical style, featuring three stories and topped with a triangular pediment. The floors are adorned with windows framed by simple cornices, complemented by a semicircular gateway and an ornate iron balcony. Although plans to add another floor, designed by Ignacy Stebelski in the 1890s, were considered, they were never realized. The Bechtold Tenement remains a significant part of Łódź's architectural heritage, bearing witness to the city's dynamic transformations and cultural diversity.