Tomaszowska Artificial Silk Factory Tenement House in Łódź

The tenement building of the Tomaszowska Artificial Silk Factory, located at 203/205 Piotrkowska Street in Łódź, has a rich history dating back to the end of the 19th century. In 1870, August Kerpert owned plot no. 203, and in the 1880s, he also acquired plot no. 205, which at the time contained wooden houses. In the courtyard, Kerpert built a steam dyeing and printing plant, employing an increasing number of workers. The Kerpert family owned the properties until 1901, after which they passed into the hands of Alfred and Bruno Gehlig, and later to Juliusz Ascher and Szmul Gerschon. The current tenement was built between 1937 and 1938 by the Tomaszowska Artificial Silk Factory, designed by Ignacy Gutman and Ludwik Oli. The building represents the "luxury" architectural style of the 1930s, featuring a symmetrical facade, two oriel windows, and a wide entrance gate finished with black granite. The elevations are adorned with pink sandstone blocks, giving the tenement an elegant appearance. In the inner courtyard, there is a warehouse-office building, which now houses the Charlie Cinema. An interesting architectural element is the sculpture of a Pegasus placed on the rear elevation, which, though unusual, coexists with the modernist style of the tenement. Also intriguing is the lack of information about the circumstances behind the creation of this original motif. The tenement is an important part of Łódź's cultural heritage, blending the history of the textile industry with modern architecture.