Kamienica is a Polish

Polish language

Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...

 term describing a type of residential building

Building

In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...

 made of brick

Brick

A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...

 or stone

Masonry

Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...

, with at least 2 floors

Storey

A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...

. The word is usually used to describe a building which is incorporated with other, similar buildings.

The ground floor is often taken up by shops

Retailing

Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...

 and business

Business

A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...

es, while residential flat

Apartment

An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...

s occupy the higher floors. Kamienice (plural) have window

Window

A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...

s in the front, but not in the gable

Gable

A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...

s, since they neighbor closely on others. This type of building is most prevalent in city centres, especially in historical rebuilding of previously destroyed parts of old town

Old Town

Old Town is the typical designation of a historic or original core of a city or town. Although the city may be larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations...

 districts. The name comes from the Polish word kamień (stone) and dates from the 15th century.

Notable examples

• Royal Kamienica in Lwow
• Black Kamienica
• Kamienice category at Polish Wikipedia