The opening of Terra Casa’s new investment is a tribute to style, history, and 65 years of the Warsaw-Chicago Sister Cities partnership
This afternoon was a true feast for architecture and culture enthusiasts! In the very heart of Marymont, at Podleśna 59, we officially opened Art Deco Marymont – a unique Terra Casa project that not only enriched Warsaw with a new, beautiful place to live but also became a living symbol of the extraordinary ties connecting our capital with Chicago for 65 years!
The ceremony was hosted by the irreplaceable Marcin Prokop, who, with his characteristic humor and elegance, introduced us to the world of Chicago Art Deco and pre-war Warsaw. We had the honor of hosting distinguished guests, including Iwona Węgrzyn-Bocheńska from Chicago Sister Cities International, Bogdan Pukszta – Director of the Polish American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago, Brad Vick – Deputy Cultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy, as well as Andrzej Malina – Deputy Mayor of the Bielany District, and many eminent guests from the world of culture, art, business, and politics.
Artur Tłustochowski, President of Terra Casa, proudly spoke about the passion for creating inspiring spaces that tell stories, drawing on the best architectural patterns. He emphasized that Art Deco Marymont is already the third project drawing from the richness of Chicago Art Deco style and the elegance of pre-war Warsaw’s Streamline Moderne. We are eagerly anticipating the next one – Art Deco Mokotów Pola Negri! Iwona Węgrzyn-Bocheńska, in turn, movingly highlighted the strong and active relationship between our cities, ongoing continuously since 1960. The mission “Bringing the World to Chicago and Chicago to the World” is certainly being realized in Marymont too! There were also solemn moments – Reverend Professor Kazimierz Pierzchała consecrated the building, followed by a symbolic ribbon-cutting, which officially opened Art Deco Marymont. With tremendous applause, we also unveiled a commemorative plaque, commemorating 65 years of the Warsaw-Chicago Sister Cities partnership – a touching testament to the depth of our relationship!
Later in the ceremony, in an apartment on the 4th floor, Marcin Prokop read congratulatory letters from Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Monika Wielichowska, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Chicago Sister Cities International. Afterwards, President Artur Tłustochowski symbolically handed over the keys to the residents, welcoming them to their new home. We also watched an inspiring film about the Sister Cities idea, and Artur Tłustochowski expanded on his vision for Art Deco Marymont, combining the classical beauty of Chicago’s architectural icons with the elegance of pre-war Warsaw and modern, ecological solutions.
A true artistic gem was the presentation by Anna Sermak, an Academy of Fine Arts student from Krakow, whose work uniquely enhances Terra Casa’s investments! Anna spoke about her sculptures (“Kiss in Flight,” “Woman in a Scarf”) and Poland’s first fluorescent mural in SoHo Krakow. She also revealed that she is working on pieces commemorating Pola Negri for Art Deco Mokotów POLA – a mosaic portrait, a sculpture, and another fluorescent mural await us! The evening was crowned by the phenomenal Kaeyra, who, straight from Los Angeles but always with Chicago in her heart, enchanted us with her performance, blending Polish and American roots in her music.
After the official part, it was time for informal conversations, networking, and exploring this beautiful building. For true enthusiasts of the era, a surprise awaited – vintage Art Deco vehicles with beautiful ladies were waiting in front of the building, inviting guests for short, stylish rides!
It was an unforgettable day, full of art, history, and a celebration of enduring friendship! Thank you to everyone for your presence and commitment to creating this unique place!
