Villa of Eugeniusz Geyer

Przybyszewskiego 10

After the severe crisis in the 1860s, the Geyer enterprise was reborn as a joint-stock company managed by the sons of Ludwik, who passed away in 1869. At the turn of the century, the family began building several new residences. The first of these was the villa of Eugeniusz Geyer, built in the south-eastern corner of the family property located at what is today Przybyszewskiego street. The building was restored in the 21^st century, bringing back to life the details of the lovely ornamented façade. Based on a square layout, the two-storey residence follows a historical design with numerous influences taken from the High Italian Renaissance and Mannerism. The building’s entrances feature decorative portals while the windows boast decorative mouldings. The first floor includes characteristic triangular pediments above the window openings, adorned with cartouche motifs. The north-west side once featured a terrace with steps to the garden. After reconstruction, it became a veranda with large windows. The interior design with its decorative woodwork survives, including the crown mouldings featuring Neo-Renaissance floral motifs.

Eugeniusz Geyer took over management of the family business after his brother Emil died in 1910. Like his predecessors, he combined business with charity, founding a children’s shelter and a school, and even providing a piece of land on which the Evangelical Reformed Church would be built – also donating 13,000 zloty for its construction. However, the life of Eugeniusz and his wife Jadwiga at the villa would be marked with tragedy. Their only son, Stanisław, volunteered for an Uhlan regiment and died during the Polish-Soviet War. The building remained in the hands of the family until 1945. Afterwards, it became state property and was turned into the Dental Clinic of the University of Łódź. Today it is the headquarters of the Regional Sanitation-Epidemiological Department.