Villa built in 1907-1909, from 1923 the home of Wojciech Korfanty, now a nursery school.
The villa at Powstańców 23 in Katowice is known as Korfantówka because Wojciech Korfanty lived in it from 1923. The house, built in 1907-1909, is entered in the heritage register and today houses a nursery school.
The master builder Paul Frantzioch designed and built it as his own home. The family owned it until 1922, after which the building was taken over by the Polish State Mines in Upper Silesia. The villa is a residence in the country-house style (Landhausstil, or cottage): brick-built, two storeys, with a high gabled roof covered in plain clay tiles and a projecting bay at the front. The gables retain wooden decoration recalling half-timbered construction, and the plot is surrounded by the original fence of wrought-iron panels and brick posts.
In July 1923 the property was bought by Wojciech Korfanty. The interiors were then rebuilt to a design by Jan Szprot, and a dining room was added on the south side. Korfanty lived here until his forced emigration in 1935, while his wife and daughter stayed until the outbreak of the war. Guests included Ignacy Jan Paderewski and Stanisław Wojciechowski. After Korfanty's death, on 20 August 1939, the funeral procession set out from this house. In 1989, on the initiative of the Museum of Katowice History, a commemorative plaque was placed on the façade.
After 1945 the villa housed, in turn, a military garrison court and the “Wschód” Trust Company, among others, and since 1957 it has been a nursery school. Since 1989 the owner has been the city. The former garden has been replaced by a playground, and a row of small-leaved lime trees grows along the street side.
Right next door stands the Cathedral of Christ the King, and the history of the city is told by the Museum of Katowice History.
Be the first! Add a comment.
You need to log in to add a comment.
Log in