Marcin Dębski also known on Instagram as warsaw_freaky talks with the Insider about his passion for pre-war architecture.
Marcin Dębski also known on Instagram as warsaw_freaky talks with the Insider about his passion for pre-war architecture.
My name is Marcin, and I have spent my entire life in Warsaw. I grew up in Lower Mokotów, near Łazienki Park, and now I reside in a 1930s building designed by the Syrkus family in Ochota. I hold a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Warsaw. My interests include long-distance travel, Nirvana, painting, design, Asian cuisine, cycling, and retro Jordans.
I’m fascinated by the beauty and quality of workmanship in both pre-war buildings and vintage cars. Their geometric shapes and the materials used give them a unique soul. I love the modernism of the 1930s, where design aimed to please the eye and serve functionality. Mies van der Rohe’s principle, “less is more,” resonates with me. I appreciate the times when construction was driven by functionality, simplicity, and beauty rather than money. Poland is home to many beautiful buildings that survived the war, and Warsaw, in particular, showcases a diverse range of modernist architecture by avant-garde creators like Lucjan Korngold, Juliusz Żórawski, Bohdan Pniewski, and the Syrkus couple.
This question often comes up! There are various methods. Sometimes, the door is open due to a broken lock, or someone lets me in without asking. Occasionally, I’ll hold the door for someone exiting with their dog or groceries. At times, I enter with a courier or Uber driver. Most of these pre-war buildings in the city center house numerous offices of notaries, solicitors, and lawyers, where you can call and request access. Often, people are proud of their buildings and happy to share their history. They sometimes even invite me into their apartments. Of course, there are occasional unpleasant situations, but these are rare.
Sometimes, I note or remember addresses of interesting buildings that I couldn’t enter at the time. Often, I can tell from a distance if a building will be worth exploring. When traveling abroad or visiting other Polish cities, I research modernist architecture in advance, but spontaneous exploration is the most enjoyable. For instance, in Naples, I discovered a whole quarter of modernist residential buildings from Mussolini’s era. However, for specific works like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat in Brno or the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois, I made special trips.
What have you learned about architectural relationships by visiting these places?
I’ve learned that, as the saying goes, “they don’t make them like they used to.” Early architects designed with the intention of improving people’s lives, focusing on how to illuminate corridors and staircases, and positioning buildings to maximize sunlight. Staircases, in particular, don’t have to be boring and repetitive; they can be delightful and winding. Exploring the hidden wonders behind the doors of tenement houses, I’ve become fascinated by their history, the stories of their designers and residents, and the unique features that make each one special.
There are many, but some standout gems include:
• The tenement houses on Al. Przyjaciół, like “Pod Żaglem” by Juliusz Żórawski and Lucjan Korngold’s tenement with an oval elevator shaft at the corner of Koszykowa and Al. Przyjaciół.
• Bohdan Pniewski’s tenement on Maria Konopnicka Street.
•The villas of the Brukalski family on Niegolewskiego Street from 1928.
• The Ministry of National Education, designed by Zdzisław Mączęński with Art Deco interiors by Wojciech Jastrzębowski. During WWII, it housed the Gestapo but survived the Warsaw Uprising nearly intact.
• Saska Kępa, with its numerous gems of 1930s avant-garde architecture, perfect for hours of exploration.
I would choose the two-family villa designed by Bohdan Pniewski on Klonowa Street, which currently belongs to the Ministry of Defense. As for the car, I would love a 1974 Porsche Carrera 911.
