“PAST-a” Warsaw Polish Telephone Joint-Stock Inc.

Polish Telephone Joint-Stock Company “PAST-a”, Warsaw, Zielna St.

This graphic presents the two historic PAST-a buildings on Zielna Street in Warsaw, one of the most recognisable symbols of the city’s eclectic architecture and early 20th-century technological progress.
The name PAST-a comes from the initials of Polska Akcyjna Spółka Telefoniczna (Polish Telephone Joint-Stock Company), which became the owner of the buildings after 1922.

The lower building, known as “Mała (little) PAST-a” (37 Zielna Street), was constructed in 1904–1905 as the telephone exchange for the Towarzystwo Akcyjne Telefonów Cedergren (Cedergren Joint-Stock Telephone Company). It was designed by Izaak Gustaw Clason in an eclectic style, combining elegance with the functionality of a modern office building.

The adjacent, taller structure, “Duża (big) PAST-a” (39 Zielna Street), was built between 1908-1910, and designed by Clason in collaboration with Bronisław Brochwicz-Rogoyski. Upon completion, it stood 51.5 meters high with eight floors, making it the tallest building in Europe at the time.
It was Europe’s first skyscraper inspired by American high-rise building, featuring a reinforced concrete structure and a form reminiscent of a medieval tower.

During the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, PAST-a became the site of some of the fiercest urban battles, and its capture was one of the greatest successes of the Polish resistance.
Today, the restored PAST-a buildings remain an important Warsaw landmark as a symbol of technological innovation, architectural boldness, and the city’s indomitable spirit.

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Why is this illustration worth having?

An icon of Warsaw: Europe’s first skyscraper, a symbol of modernity and a key site of the Warsaw Uprising.

A landmark of Polish architecture: an early 20th-century masterpiece by Clason and Brochwicz-Rogoyski, blending modern design with history.
A unique decoration: perfect for enthusiasts of architecture, history, and the city of Warsaw.

Product features:

Style: Minimalist architectural artwork.

Subject: PAST-a Complex in Warsaw.

Colour palette: Classic black and white.

Print: High-quality art paper.

Paper sizes: 38 cm × 28 cm.

Passe-partout: Black / ecru / copper / cherry / green.

Frame format: 50 cm × 40 cm.

Wooden frame with glass: Gold / brown / brown-gold / black-gold.

Production: Made in Poland.

Passe-partout

Frames

Delivery Poland

Delivery European Union

Shipping United States