Władysław Horodecki

The House with Chimaeras stands as a primary example of the urban legacy left by Władysław Horodecki, a Polish architect who spent three decades shaping the skyline of Kyiv. Born in 1863 within the Russian Partition of Poland, his professional trajectory spanned the Russian Empire, the Second Polish Republic, and eventually the development of railway infrastructure in Persia.

Early Education and Professional Beginnings

Born Leszek Dezydery Horodecki in the village of Szołudki, he belonged to a noble Polish szlachta family holding the Kornic coat of arms. His early life was rooted in the Podolia region before he relocated to Odesa in 1879 to attend gymnasium. He furthered his technical proficiency by enrolling at the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg in 1885, completing his formal studies in 1890.

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Architectural Impact in Kyiv

Following his graduation, Horodecki moved to Kyiv, where he resided for nearly 30 years. His portfolio included major contributions to the city's urban environment, such as the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church, the Karaite Kenesa, and the National Art Museum of Ukraine. During these projects, he frequently collaborated with Emilio Sala, a Milanese sculptor who served as an instructor at the Kyiv City College.

Transition to Poland and Persia

Political upheaval following World War I and the Polish-Soviet War necessitated his move to Warsaw. During this period, he led the American Project Bureau, Henry Ulan & Co., overseeing diverse construction projects including a meat factory in Lublin, a bath house in Zgierz, a casino in Otwock, and various structures in Piotrków Trybunalski. In 1928, he accepted an invitation to move to Tehran, where he served as the chief architect for the Syndicate on the Design of Persian Railways, focusing specifically on the Tehran railway station.

Legacy and Remembrance

Horodecki died in 1930 and was interred at the Polish War Cemetery in Tehran, also known as the Doulab Catholic Cemetery. His epitaph reads, Professor of architecture. Let the foreign soil be light for him. In 1996, a street in Kyiv was renamed in his honour, and a commemorative statue was placed on Khreshchatyk in 2004. Further recognition includes a white marble bust in Nemyriv and a 5-hryvnia commemorative coin issued in 2013.