Architecture and Architects in Socialist Poland

Between Stalin and Le Corbusier
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-99250-1
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 226 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: Routledge Research in Architecture

The book presents the history of Polish architecture and architects in the years 1944-1989, focusing on selected issues, including both the development of architecture itself and the conditions of practicing architecture in the socialist country.

The history of architecture and architects in socialist Poland is described not only from the perspective of an architectural historian and researcher, but also from the perspective of active participants in the events described. The text is based on historical sources and literature, as well as on numerous interviews with architects and urban planners who played an important role in: post-war reconstruction, implementation of the socialist-realist doctrine, creation of the most significant buildings and monuments, development of the local version of socialist modernism or post-modernism. It gives the floor back to those whose voice was hardly heard after the collapse of the socialist system in 1989.

The book should become an interesting source of information for those interested in the material culture of former socialist countries. Although it focuses on socialist Poland, it can be used as material for comparative studies of mutual relations between East and West in post-war Europe, as well as for analysis of the situation of architecture and architects in socialist countries.

Zielgruppe

Academic, Postgraduate, and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ciarkowski, Blazej

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Architektur Geschichte der Architektur, Baugeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of figures

List of abbreviations

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. The architecture and architects in socialist Poland

1.1. Political, geographical and historical context

1.2. Architecture of interwar period

1.3. Five generations of architects in socialist Poland

2. Artist or worker? Architect in the socialist country

2.1. Education

2.2. State owned architectural offices

2.3. Academic career

2.4. Architects in public administration institutions

2.5. Architects-politicians

3. Iron curtain or nylon curtain?

3.1. Foreign literature and journals

3.2. International architectural competitions

3.3. Polish architects in Western Europe

3.4. Polish architects in Middle East and North Africa

4. National in form, socialist in content

4.1. Between „old” and „new” times – architecture before 1949

4.2. New cities, new estates

4.3. The architecture of „Stalinist empire style”

4.4. Post-war reconstruction of Warsaw

4.5. Western and Northern Territories

5. Back to the modernism

5.1. Architecture and modernisation policy

5.2. „Prestigious developments”

5.3. (critical) Regionalism

5.4. New city centres

5.5. Housing estates

6. Post-soc-modernism

6.1. Post-socmodernism or soc-postmodernism?

6.2. Churches in socialist state - architecture of resistance

6.3. Against the Athens Charter – postmodern urban planning

Epilogue

Appendix 1

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Blazej Ciarkowski, MSc and PhD in Architecture from the Lodz University of Technology and M.A. in the History of Art from the University of Lodz. Blazej is associate professor at the Institute of Art History, University of Lodz and three-term winner of the scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. He has authored numerous books and articles on modern architecture and preservation of the modern movement’s heritage. Blazej’s research interests focus on modernist architecture, mutual relations between architecture and politics, preservation and conservation of modernist architecture. He is a member of Docomomo International, Polish National Committee of ICOMOS, Association of Art Historians and Association of Polish Architects.