{"id":86965,"date":"2026-05-20T06:46:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T06:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/86965\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T06:46:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T06:46:20","slug":"the-house-of-the-scarabs-a-warsaw-landmark-in-ruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/86965\/","title":{"rendered":"The House of the Scarabs \u2013 a Warsaw landmark in ruins"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the junction of Pu\u0142awska and Okolska Streets in Warsaw stands the House under the Scarabs \u2013 one of the most distinctive buildings in pre-war Mokot\u00f3w. For nearly 100 years, the property has captivated visitors with its exotic details and mysterious symbolism. The former family villa of W\u0142adys\u0142aw and Jadwiga Malinowski survived the Second World War and the post-war redevelopment of the area, but today the historic building is falling into ruin before our very eyes.<\/p>\n

The House under the Scarabs \u2013 iconic modernism<\/p>\n

The villa was built between 1932 and 1934 to a design by the architect Adolf Ihnatowicz-\u0141ubia\u0144ski. The client was the engineer W\u0142adys\u0142aw Malinowski, a member of the pre-war Warsaw engineering community. The architect and the client studied at the Riga Polytechnic and were active in the Arkonia academic society. Traces of this symbolism are still visible in the building\u2019s ornamentation. The most interesting feature is, of course, the relief depicting a huge scarab surrounded by two birds. For years, these were regarded as owls symbolising knowledge; however, some researchers now suggest they were inspired by Egyptian falcons. The scarab itself referred to rebirth and diligence. It was this very detail that led the residents of Warsaw to start referring to the building as the House under the Scarabs even before the war.<\/p>\n

\"\"photo: Qkiel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Europe\u2019s fascination with Egypt<\/p>\n

The villa\u2019s structure embodies the spirit of modernism and Art Deco, but the d\u00e9cor reveals the owner\u2019s fascination with ancient Egypt. In the 1920s and 1930s, similar inspirations emerged in many European cities. The imagination was drawn to the Nile by the momentous and groundbreaking discovery of Tutankhamun\u2019s tomb. In Warsaw, however, such projects were rare, whereas in Krak\u00f3w the Egyptian House, which we wrote about HERE<\/a>, became famous. The Malinowski House at 101 Pu\u0142awska Street had a geometric form and a rather restrained fa\u00e7ade composition, broken up only by almost theatrical additions. The interiors also revealed the couple\u2019s passion for decorative modernism. Noteworthy features included the striking staircase balustrade and the bay window floor featuring a seven-pointed star, a symbol of Arkonia representing knowledge and truth. The Malinowski residence was surrounded by a large park-like garden, which has now virtually disappeared.<\/p>\n

The House under the Scarabs and its fate<\/p>\n

The Malinowskis left their home in September 1939, just five years after its completion. During the German occupation and the Warsaw Uprising, the villa served as a field hospital. The building itself survived the events of the Second World War in relatively good condition, which was a great stroke of luck in Warsaw. However, shelling damaged the Egyptian decorations on the fa\u00e7ade, the terrace balustrades and parts of the fence. After 1945, the engineer\u2019s former residence was nationalised, superficially renovated and then divided into smaller flats. Over time, commercial premises also appeared, which is why the ground floor of the house was rebuilt and some of the windows and doors were rebuilt. Subsequent uncontrolled renovations further obscured the property\u2019s original d\u00e9cor and character. The garden was not spared either. It was divided up between private owners and the city, which over the years complicated attempts to restore the property\u2019s historic appearance.<\/p>\n

\"\"The damaged house, during the occupation. Source: State Archives in Warsaw
\nWarsaw landmark in increasingly poor condition<\/p>\n

The lack of proper care for the House under the Scarabs has led to the progressive deterioration of what was once an interesting piece of architecture. The light-coloured fa\u00e7ades darkened with grime, decorations peeled away from the walls and fell onto the pavement, and the elegant interiors lost more and more of their original features. Over time, the dilapidated building was abandoned by its residents and tenants. It made headlines again in 2016 when a section of the cornice fell onto the pavement and cycle path on Pu\u0142awska Street. Today, the Malinowski House bears more resemblance to a forgotten mansion from another era than to an iconic monument of Warsaw\u2019s modernist architecture. Crumbling plaster, blind windows, graffiti-covered fa\u00e7ades and ruined balustrades form a stark contrast to the bustling, traffic-filled Pu\u0142awska Street. Despite these alarming facts, the villa has largely retained its elegant proportions and the famous scarab relief.<\/p>\n

The House under the Scarabs \u2013 what next?<\/p>\n

In 2011, the building was entered into the register of monuments of the Mazovia Province. Protection was granted to its fa\u00e7ades, decorations and part of the historic interiors. The decision safeguarded the villa from demolition, whilst significantly limiting the possibility of major alterations without the consent of the conservation officer. For many years, the capital\u2019s media have been reporting on plans to renovate the building and restore its lost decorations. The main problems here, however, are the high costs of the work, ownership issues and the poor technical condition of the building. Alejandro Carsona wrote that trees die standing up. So do Warsaw\u2019s historic buildings.<\/p>\n

\"Domphoto: Qkiel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n

Source: warszawa1939.pl<\/a>, polska-org.pl<\/a><\/p>\n

Read also:Tenement house<\/a>|Warsaw<\/a>|Architecture in Poland<\/a>|Interesting facts<\/a>|whiteMAD on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

The villa in 1936 and 2026. Source: State Archives in Warsaw and Google Maps<\/p>\n

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The villa in 1936 and 2026. Source: State Archives in Warsaw and Google Maps<\/p>\n

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The rear of the villa in 1938 and today. Source: Festung\u00b0\/polska-org.pl<\/p>\n

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