Originally, Warszawska Street was called Friedrichstraße and was one of the three most important arteries of the city of Kattowitz, which was growing at a frenetic pace. Industry determined the wealth of Upper Silesia and its new inhabitants. Heading from the market towards Myslowitz, the road became a veritable living room, with the residence of Elias Sachs in addition to villas, beautiful churches and edifices.
BANK IT WAS
The aforementioned Elias Sachs toiled in banking. Not much is known about him himself, but it can be surmised that he was a wealthy and enlightened man, as he knew exactly what potential was hidden in Kattowitz. Evidence of this was his creation of the first banking house in the city. Such an important man also had to live in a representative house, so he decided to build a villa amidst the buildings of other wealthy residents of the city, which had barely received city rights a few years earlier. He hired one of the best Silesian architects, whose name was Ignazt Grünfeld, to design his villa. It was he who created the neoclassical-style building, which became one of the most luxurious in the entire city. Ludwig Katz, the owner of a roofing felt factory, became the next owner of the building. It was such a lucrative business that the man behind it had to take care of his image. The last owner during the Prussian period was the Deustche Volksbankinstitution , which took over the building in 1913.
wIdok from the side of Mielęckiego Street
© Apricot Capital Group
new times - old functions
When, in 1922, Gen. Szeptycki rode in with his troops along the aforementioned Friedrichstraße, echoes said that not only its name would change. At that time, the building was already owned (since 1920) by the Poznań-based Bank of the Union of Economic Companies. It was this institution that influenced the form of the building we see today. In 1922-1924 an expansion was carried out according to the design of Hans Jaretzki. The villa building was integrated into a larger building, higher by a story. A high corner appeared from the side of Mielęckiego Street, which is also a representative pavilion. The whole expansion took place respecting the original style of the building, nevertheless the architect had a weakness for Palladianism, which can be seen on the front elevation. In addition, the building is adorned with magnificent details, such as basket trellises and roof balustrades with vases. For a while, the building was home to the Polish Radio Katowice. After World War II, the building became the headquarters of a branch of the National Bank of Poland, and in later years, until 2017, the headquarters of PKO.
interior design
© Apricot Capital Group
living like in Madrid
In 2017, the edifice was acquired by Apricot Capital Group of Spain. The original idea was to adapt the building into a hotel. However, the investor noticed that Katowice lacked a multifunctional building for spending time. Thus came the vision to create a modern space that would combine dining and entertainment functions. A refreshed edifice is expected to open its doors as early as this year, with a fine-dining kitchen, restaurants, a room designed for comedy performances, and music clubs. The building is intended to be a kind of journey through the world, musical styles and tastes. The developer decided to use the work of several designers to give the various halls an individual character.
interior visualizations
© Apricot Capital Group
tenant named
Jose Martinez, founder and CEO of Apricot Capital Group, came to Katowice from Madrid to see this unique edifice. During his visit, he met a cat inside, which even showed him around the building. Hence the genesis of the name - the Cat Palace. There has already been one tenant in its history who bore a "cat" name, so this coincidence only completes the aptness of the name. The new functions will also refer to history, as such representative villas often served for various kinds of receptions and smaller parties. The entire investment is worth about 100 million zlotys. As the investor emphasizes, Katowice is a thriving cultural and business center, and it was the city's openness to new investments that prompted him to realize it in the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship.
bar project
© Apricot Capital Group
