Herbst - the residence "Ksiezy Mlyn"

n 1870's have been built complex, unique in Europe, which has joined two different functions residential and productional and which is called "Ksiezy Mlyn"(Priest Mill). Essential part of the complex is residence of Edward Herbst and Zofia Matylda Herbst, cotton potentate Karol Scheibler's daughter. Residence was built in 1875 on project by Hilary Majewski. It was situated in the southern part of the city, at the corner of Przedzalniana and Tymienieckiego street. Vast area surrounding those streets belonged to Karol Scheibler. From 1870 this terrain was successively developed. Between 1873 and 1877 housing-productional estate arose there. It included three main types of buildings: factories, workers' houses connected with social buildings and owner's mansion. Each element of this complex was closely connected with others, thanks to well thought out composition of the whole area. The conception of connection housing architecture with nature caused that there is a lot of greeen areas at the estate and it is situated next to park.

Herbst's residence is light, clasical in proportions, two-storey, neo-renaissance building. At the side of the garden it is connected with architecturaly separated ballroom and wintry garden and at the side of Tymienieckiego street with storeyed annexe. Next to rear courtyard there is storeyed building with a tower which was used as a stable. Whole residence with park is surronded by a fence with two cordeguards.

Since 1942 mansion belonged to Herbsts family. After II World War it has been used by many other users. Wrong exploitation lead to devastation and partial demolition of these historic buildings. Museum of Art, which took over the residential complex in 1976, found all objects belonging to the complex comletely devastated. Technical condition of the buildings required thorough redecoration. During restoration all elements has been carefully secured. It was necessary to restore nearly completely the wooden floor and most parts of paneling and also renovate tapestry which was used to cover the walls. Similarly in coach-house and annexe all decorations has been carefully restored, mainly the exterior part of it. Thanks to restoration of windows elevation get its original apperance, which has been disrupted during previous redecorations in this way orginal architect's conception has been restored. Gateway and cordeguard situated next to each other have been reconstructed as well as decorative fence, and also garden get its former apperance with fountain and small architectonical details.

In the residence there are a temporary exhibitions gallery which is adaptable to expose drawings, graphics, photographies and sculptures, in this gallery museum presents modern and old art. Coach house has been adapted for museum warehouse and offices, there is also exhibition of carts from collection of Michal Leszczynski. In the main building -residence- interior has been restored, this emphasize the specific character of the house of Lodz's industrialst at the end of XIX century. The reconstruction of interior was based on photograpic documentaion and other descriptions. Display was not prepared to show any particular flat but to give the vistors the idea how the industralist seat looked like, howing the orginal arrangement and functions of rooms. Threeeway arrangement of interior with a staircase at the axis of the house is characteristical for houses of Lodz's industrialists at the end of XIX century. Ground floor was representative part of the house as first storey keeped residential function. This arrengment has been maintained during creation of the exhibition.

Restoration of Herbsts residence should be treated as a first stage of great conservatory project which goal is to save disappearing cultural heritage of industrial Lodz. Nowadays most of the buildings in complex still kept their orginal functions. In 1991 Museum of Art in Lodz was awarded with medal of honor "Europe Nostra" for renovation "Ksiezy Mlyn".