Former Weichmann's Textile House, Modernist department store in Gliwice, Poland
The former Weichmann Textile House is a modernist department store featuring horizontal lines, expansive display windows, and a distinctive corner entrance with reinforced concrete and brick surfaces. The structure spans three floors with a basement, where lower levels housed retail spaces while upper areas contained former residential quarters.
The building was constructed between 1921 and 1922 under architect Erich Mendelsohn's direction, with support from Richard Neutra, who worked in Mendelsohn's Berlin studio. This collaboration brought forward-thinking design ideas to the city and influenced the region's development of modernist architecture.
The building combines expressionist and functionalist design elements that are visible in its clean geometric forms and broad window patterns. This architectural language shaped how modern retail spaces were understood and experienced in the city.
The building is located along Zwycięstwa Street and remains accessible from the street due to its original storefront design that welcomed foot traffic. Visitors should note that access and interior exploration may be limited depending on the building's current public availability and permitted use.
The roof features asymmetrical stepped forms that create a dynamic visual effect along Zwycięstwa Street. This unusual roofline was an intentional design choice that set the building apart from ordinary department stores of its era.
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