Feniks house in Kraków, Modernist building at Rynek Główny Square, Poland
Feniks house is a modernist building facing Rynek Główny Square with five-axis facades on the market side and a twelve-axis facade along Saint John Street. Large window sections dominate its exterior, creating an open appearance that was innovative for its time.
Built in 1932, the structure replaced three medieval buildings including the 14th-century Tryblowska house and the Fridrichszmalcowska house from the 13th century. Its construction marked a turning point in how the square developed toward modern design.
Locals called it the House under the Chimneys because of the distinctive peaked gables that crown its roofline. This nickname reflects how the building's most noticeable feature shaped its identity in people's minds.
Retail spaces occupy the ground floor while the upper levels hold apartments equipped with air conditioning and modern amenities. Its location on Rynek Główny makes it easily accessible and part of the daily flow through the square.
It became the first building in Kraków to display a neon sign and used aluminum window frames, both unusual technical choices for the time. These details made it stand out as a leader in modernization on the square.
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