History
The Ostaszewski Palace was built in 1895. This palatial residence is a valuable relic of late 19th century architecture and art; the interiors feature rich polychromes on plafonds, architertural details and furnishings.
The palace is yet another example of the work of the outstanding architect, Mr. Józef Pokutyński. Entered in the list of historical buildings. Built of masonry covered with plaster, erected on section-vaulted cellars, two-floor. Angularly joined on an irregular projection, with a wing along Retoryka St. Entrance in the extreme left axis. Rooms in two rows along a corridor. The facade along Piłsudskiego St. with axes, that along Retoryka St. with 6 axes, joined by a semicircular corner. The ground floor of the building stands on a high plinth. It is covered with bands of rustification and features wall breaks around the corner. The entrance is surrounded by a phased, semicircular closed band, with rusticated pilasters to the sides. Basement windows enclosed in rectangular fringes with a key motif.
The ground floor is closed with a profiled, cordon cornice and a small cornice at the height of the first floor window sills. The first floor is divided with Ionic pilasters and a pair of Ionic attached columns in the corner axis. The first floor window openings have profiled ear-shaped fringes, the lintels show a motif of keys and stylised triglyphs, and are topped with section jerkin-heads.The corner axis features a balcony supported on stone consoles with banisters. The whole building is closed with an entablature, whose cornice is enlivened by a motif of blocks. Above the cornice, there is a railing attic made of banisters separated by masonry posts at the axes of articulation. The entrance is fitted with a two-wing gate with profiled panels above the wings.
