they also ran businesses from the ground
rivalry among us. Later on, when we gave
MK: Yes, it was planted in a semicircle, at
floors. There was a silkworm production
up the games of cowboys and Indians
the corner of the building.
space in the drying room. In the other
and moved onto sports; we played
TK: It grew very well thanks to the
rooms, our neighbour from flat 3, Mr
football. On the nearby field we played
roughness of the plaster and concrete.
Orlik; a railwayman, a carpenter and
matches: third floor versus the rest of the
The building was covered with foliage,
a handyman, had his workshop. Back
world, or our building versus the rest of
just as Centennial Hall is. It had its
then times were different. As children
the world. We were visited by teams from
charm, but anything could get into the
we would spend whole days exploring
Grunwaldzki Square, or even Ślęża. Once
flats: rats and other animals.
the entire district, hanging out in the
we even drew with them: 2:2.
MK: Our grandfather lived in the cornerroom of flat 19, on the top floor. He died
nearby playgrounds, namely, the debris in GHL: Was the hairdresser’s here
in the 60s. He was a post office worker
all that time? How far back can you
and a nature lover. The Virginia creeper
GHL: Do you remember those ruins?
remember?
grew up to his room, and there were tall
MK: They were definitely there in the 60s.
TK: Yes, we remember it. The
hawthorn bushes by the front steps. On
TK: Those were times when hordes of
hairdresser’s was here since way back.
a few occasions we had a squirrel in our
children would run around with bows
Prior to that there was a tram stop, but
flat; different birds and jackdaws. The
or plumes in their hair; to the Ślęża
we don't remember what it looked like;
Virginia creeper was removed when they
stadium, the Zoo, around the warehouses
or if there was a shelter for that matter,
painted the façade: that was maybe in
of the Wrocław Film Studio, where
like before the war, or was it already a
the 70s.
a cardboard ”Rudy”* stood.
built-up place.
TK: Now, within the WuWA renovation
TK: This house was like a kindergarten;
MK: Our mummy would mention some
project, we would like to install some
as there were so many children and
milk bar** she always used to go to.
ventilation, since there isn't any.
everyone looked after them. If any of us
TK: By the entrance, on the right wall
was hungry or thirsty, we could get food
there used to be old fashioned mail
GHL: The building had so-called
and drink at any of the flats.
boxes: built into the wall. I think that if we
“natural ventilation” which was
MK: There was only one entrance, so
knocked on the wall hard enough we’d
acceptable at the time of its
an adult could keep an eye on all of us.
find them again.
construction.
Chełmońskiego Street by the Zoo.
TK: Well, when the windows are draughty
When it would rain, all life moved to the balcony (what the residents call the
GHL: Somebody mentioned that on the
and the wind passes freely through the
gallery – editor's note). I learnt to ride a
corner there is a bricked up spot where
gaps, then we might call that ventilation.
bike on this balcony; some thirty metres
a Virginia creeper once grew up the
Generally, people manage the situation
long, roofed over. There was also a sporty
wall. Was it like that?
here in the two following ways: some
* A name of a fictional army tank from a Polish TV series “Czterej pancerni i pies” produced between 1966–1970. The original tank, used as Rudy, was a medium tank T-34/85. ** A special place where people would buy fresh milk at the times of communism.
WuWA 1929 2014 33