The Koliba villa in Zakopane


Zakopane became a famous Polish resort at the end of 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century, when many Polish artists had discovered the village in the surrounding Tatra mountains. The highlanders culture was their main inspiration. You can read the article about Zakopane here: https://polishorigins.com/document/zakopane.


There is one building that deserves particular attention. It is located in the town center, near the oldest part of Zakopane.

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The Koliba willa in Zakopane. Picture: Aga, PolishOrigins


It is the Koliba villa, designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz. In fact, Witkiewicz was not only an architect, but a kind of ‘the renaissance man?: a painter, writer, poet, and reporter. He has been drawing the traditional highlanders cottages and huts and he created the architecture style called ?Zakopane style?.


It was something unthinkable at his times: that the big villas and hotels for rich people visiting Zakopane might be constructed in a way, using old techniques, local material, and traditional ornaments, just like the poorest houses in the village. His architecture works (there are a few of them in Zakopane) are amazing and have influenced the look of Zakopane. Every detail of woodcarvings, stairs, roof finals, doors and windows are perfectly constructed. All of the buildings are beautifully composed in the landscape.

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The Zakopane style in architecture. Picture: Aga, PolishOrigins


In the Koliba villa there is the museum of Zakopane Architecture style. However it is not only architecture that Wyspiański had designed. Inside the museum there is also furniture, porcelain and clothes, inspired by the traditional patterns , which sometimes are combined with the art deco inspirations. Today, over 100 years later, we can still see some attempts to use ideas of Wyspiański ? Zakopane style can be seen all over Poland, not only in Podhale region.


Click here to see the details of our ready-made tour ‘Wooden treasures of southern Poland’: https://polishorigins.com/document/wooden_treasures


Website in English: http://www.muzeumtatrzanskie.com.pl/index.php’strona,menu,pol,glowna,1445,0,1445,ant.html


See the map of  ?Wooden treasures of southern Poland?: http://blog.polishorigins.com/2013/07/01/wooden-treasures-of-southern-poland-introduction/

Aga Pawlus
PolishOrigins Team

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