About 3,587 churches have been built across Poland since 1945. A new exhibition at London's Calvert 22 Foundation explores the story behind the most exciting -- and out of place -- designs.
About 3,587 churches have been built across Poland since 1945. A new exhibition at London's Calvert 22 Foundation explores the story behind the most exciting -- and out of place -- designs.
Courtesy Igor Snopek
Most of the churches were built by local community groups without official sanction, designed by state-employed architects as passion projects.
Most of the churches were built by local community groups without official sanction, designed by state-employed architects as passion projects.
Courtesy Igor Snopek
Architects employed by state-run construction firms by day approached the design of these buildings as off-book passion projects, resulting in exuberant and ambitious structures that exist in dramatic contrast to the rural communities and regimented urban zones they occupy.
Architects employed by state-run construction firms by day approached the design of these buildings as off-book passion projects, resulting in exuberant and ambitious structures that exist in dramatic contrast to the rural communities and regimented urban zones they occupy.
Courtesy Igor Snopek
"People were not just expecting to build a place to pray, it was also working like a culture center," explains co-curator Izabela Cichonska.
"People were not just expecting to build a place to pray, it was also working like a culture center," explains co-curator Izabela Cichonska.
Courtesy Igor Snopek
"Many intellectuals were involved and the church was a sort of asylum: during 44 years of communism in Poland, you could say something against politics there. It was a safe place," Cichonska says.
"Many intellectuals were involved and the church was a sort of asylum: during 44 years of communism in Poland, you could say something against politics there. It was a safe place," Cichonska says.
Courtesy Igor Snopek
Poland's radical post-war churches
CNN  — 

A new exhibition at London’s Calvert 22 Foundation reveals the hidden story of Poland’s extraordinary post-war churches.

Architects employed by state-run construction firms by day approached the design of these buildings as off-book passion projects, resulting in exuberant and ambitious structures that exist in dramatic contrast to the rural communities and regimented urban zones they occupy.

For Polish architect Kuba Snopek and co-curators Izabela Cichonska and Karolina Popera, the churches they had grown up around and barely noticed were suddenly revealed as an architectural curiosity – one that had been ‘completely omitted’ from the official curriculum, says Cichonska.

“Poland is ashamed of this sort of architecture because it’s not brilliant, but there’s this cool story in its roots, and the DNA of how it happened is fascinating,” she explains.

These buildings, shortlisted by the 2015 World Architecture Festival, challenge design notions of sacred spaces.
Cardedeu by EMC Arquitectura, El Salvador —
These buildings, shortlisted by the 2015 World Architecture Festival, challenge design notions of sacred spaces.
world architecture festival
Cardedeu is situated in the picturesque mountains surrounding Lake Coatepeque in El Salvador. "We didn't want Cardedeu to compete with nature, we could see and feel God in it. We just wanted to create a space that would enhance the focus in nature and feel connected to a person's beliefs and emotions. For us, it had to be simple, it had to be unadorned," says Gabriela Siman, project manager at EMC Arquitectura of the building's design.
Cardedeu by EMC Arquitectura, El Salvador (2013) —
Cardedeu is situated in the picturesque mountains surrounding Lake Coatepeque in El Salvador. "We didn't want Cardedeu to compete with nature, we could see and feel God in it. We just wanted to create a space that would enhance the focus in nature and feel connected to a person's beliefs and emotions. For us, it had to be simple, it had to be unadorned," says Gabriela Siman, project manager at EMC Arquitectura of the building's design.
world architecture festival
"It was intended as a scene for the landscape and handled as a unique space developed with a single material, concrete, to highlight the lake and mountains," says Gabriela Siman, project manager at EMC Arquitectura. The design's informal reticular pattern deliberately limits the visitor's view to the lake, enticing the visitor to explore its greater surroundings.
Cardedeu by EMC Arquitectura, El Salvador (2013) —
"It was intended as a scene for the landscape and handled as a unique space developed with a single material, concrete, to highlight the lake and mountains," says Gabriela Siman, project manager at EMC Arquitectura. The design's informal reticular pattern deliberately limits the visitor's view to the lake, enticing the visitor to explore its greater surroundings.
world architecture festival
Hiroshi Nakamura, CEO of Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co. Ltd, says the chapel's form-defying design symbolizes the union of marriage: "Just as two lives go through twists and turns before uniting as one, the two spirals seamlessly connect at the top to form a single ribbon. By entwining two spiral stairways, we realized a free-standing building of unprecedented composition could architecturally embody the act of marriage. At this chapel, bride and groom ascend the stairs separately to be joined together at the top, ask for heaven's pardon, and declare their marriage."
Ribbon Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co. Ltd, Japan (2013) —
Hiroshi Nakamura, CEO of Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co. Ltd, says the chapel's form-defying design symbolizes the union of marriage: "Just as two lives go through twists and turns before uniting as one, the two spirals seamlessly connect at the top to form a single ribbon. By entwining two spiral stairways, we realized a free-standing building of unprecedented composition could architecturally embody the act of marriage. At this chapel, bride and groom ascend the stairs separately to be joined together at the top, ask for heaven's pardon, and declare their marriage."
world architecture festival
The wedding chapel is built on the grounds of a resort hotel overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Part of the design's circular plan was informed by its surroundings -- a thick forest that would block views of the sea. The chapel's form was therefore extended higher than the trees and its 360 degree views work as an idyllic observation platform for visitors. <br />
Ribbon Chapel by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP Co. Ltd, Japan (2013) —
The wedding chapel is built on the grounds of a resort hotel overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Part of the design's circular plan was informed by its surroundings -- a thick forest that would block views of the sea. The chapel's form was therefore extended higher than the trees and its 360 degree views work as an idyllic observation platform for visitors.
World Architecture Festival
The Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies is located in Education City, on the outskirts of Doha. The building, which includes spaces for learning and a mosque, imparts Islamic values and education in a modern and progressive setting. The taller south facing mosque is intended to provide shade to the main courtyard.
Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies by Mangera Yvars Architects, Doha —
The Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies is located in Education City, on the outskirts of Doha. The building, which includes spaces for learning and a mosque, imparts Islamic values and education in a modern and progressive setting. The taller south facing mosque is intended to provide shade to the main courtyard.
©MYAA
According to Mangera Yvars Architects, the design incorporates the ethereal qualities of Islamic space --the use of light, the reverberation of prayer, the use of calligraphy, geometry and ornamentation. Calligraphy and Qur'anic verse decorates the building's facade. The design of the building's acoustics enable the call to prayer to resonate throughout the building.
Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies by Mangera Yvars Architects, Doha —
According to Mangera Yvars Architects, the design incorporates the ethereal qualities of Islamic space --the use of light, the reverberation of prayer, the use of calligraphy, geometry and ornamentation. Calligraphy and Qur'anic verse decorates the building's facade. The design of the building's acoustics enable the call to prayer to resonate throughout the building.
©Qatar Foundation
The Light of Life church is located on the outskirts of Seoul, South Korea, on the south side of Bori mountain. The exterior of the church resembles a modern green-house pyramid, and encases a wooden dome.<br />
Light of Life Church by Shinslab Architecture, Seoul (2014) —
The Light of Life church is located on the outskirts of Seoul, South Korea, on the south side of Bori mountain. The exterior of the church resembles a modern green-house pyramid, and encases a wooden dome.
world arhictecture festival
The church's interior takes note of its mountainous and heavily forested surroundings -- its interior looks like an inverted treehouse, made of 834 differently sized pieces of Siberian red cedar wood. A cross is fixed in the middle of a pool of water.
Light of Life Church by Shinslab Architecture, South Korea (2014) —
The church's interior takes note of its mountainous and heavily forested surroundings -- its interior looks like an inverted treehouse, made of 834 differently sized pieces of Siberian red cedar wood. A cross is fixed in the middle of a pool of water.
World Architecture Festival
The Catholic City Hub was directly commissioned by the Catholic church in Singapore. Located in the heart of the city, the building functions as a community center, with office spaces, a café, multi-purpose function halls, and a library.
Catholic City Hub by Eco.id Architects, Singapore (2014) —
The Catholic City Hub was directly commissioned by the Catholic church in Singapore. Located in the heart of the city, the building functions as a community center, with office spaces, a café, multi-purpose function halls, and a library.
world architecture festival
The rippling lines of the building's facade are based on the score of a Gregorian chant. Project architect Christopher Khoo of Eco.id Architects, says the inspiration behind the building's facade was church instruments. "We wanted to use a simple material, in this case, lightweight aluminum. It resembles wind chimes or organ pipes. The aluminum tubes were used to give the building a modern look." <br />
Catholic City Hub by Eco.id Architects, Singapore (2014) —
The rippling lines of the building's facade are based on the score of a Gregorian chant. Project architect Christopher Khoo of Eco.id Architects, says the inspiration behind the building's facade was church instruments. "We wanted to use a simple material, in this case, lightweight aluminum. It resembles wind chimes or organ pipes. The aluminum tubes were used to give the building a modern look."
World Architecture Festival
This church's design is made of three concentric ovals and its warm, intimate interior is lined with timber. Teak wood slats are horizontally secured onto steel frames. Director of the Indonesian branch of Denton Corker Marshall, Budiman Hendropurnomo says the use of these materials and structure of design are intended to create acoustics that "would have the likeness of singing inside a violin."
Stella Maris by Denton Coreker Marshall Jakarta/PT Duta Cermat Mandiri, Indonesia (2014) —
This church's design is made of three concentric ovals and its warm, intimate interior is lined with timber. Teak wood slats are horizontally secured onto steel frames. Director of the Indonesian branch of Denton Corker Marshall, Budiman Hendropurnomo says the use of these materials and structure of design are intended to create acoustics that "would have the likeness of singing inside a violin."
world architecture festival
This catholic church was designed to seat up to 500 people in its canoe-like balconies. Natural materials such as stone and timber are used throughout the design.
Stella Maris by Denton Coreker Marshall Jakarta/PT Duta Cermat Mandiri, Indonesia (2014) —
This catholic church was designed to seat up to 500 people in its canoe-like balconies. Natural materials such as stone and timber are used throughout the design.
World Architecture Festival
This monastery was re-designed with the intention of creating a modern center for Buddhist practice and culture, with a special emphasis on Buddhist art. Its facade is inspired by the golden colors and geometric patterns found on the cassock, or robe, of Buddhist monks.
Mahabodi Monastery by Multiply Architects LLP, Singapore (2014) —
This monastery was re-designed with the intention of creating a modern center for Buddhist practice and culture, with a special emphasis on Buddhist art. Its facade is inspired by the golden colors and geometric patterns found on the cassock, or robe, of Buddhist monks.
World Architecture Festival
The circulation through the monastery is a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, gardens and water features that give pause for reflection.
Mahabodi Monastery by Multiply Architects LLP, Singapore (2014) —
The circulation through the monastery is a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, gardens and water features that give pause for reflection.
World Architecture Festival.
The temple was rebuilt on a former Ming Dynasty temple site destroyed during the Sino-Japanese war. Since its opening, it has been frequented by Buddhists and the wider public.
Floating Moon Temple by Turenscape Architecture, China (2014) —
The temple was rebuilt on a former Ming Dynasty temple site destroyed during the Sino-Japanese war. Since its opening, it has been frequented by Buddhists and the wider public.
world architecture festival
The design is a modern take on traditional Buddhist temples, and embodies Zen ideas of emptiness and anatta, or the denial of a self. Its poetic name is a nod to its location "floating" in a wetland park in southwest China, as well as Buddhists concepts of cause, effect, completeness and incompleteness, which resemble the physical form of a moon.<br />
Floating Moon Temple by Turenscape Architecture, China (2014) —
The design is a modern take on traditional Buddhist temples, and embodies Zen ideas of emptiness and anatta, or the denial of a self. Its poetic name is a nod to its location "floating" in a wetland park in southwest China, as well as Buddhists concepts of cause, effect, completeness and incompleteness, which resemble the physical form of a moon.
world architecture festival
The word pagoda usually evokes images of tiered towers with upturned eaves. Pagoda, in this case, is stripped down to a single slab of rock -- a place of solitude and worship. "We wanted to create a stone pagoda that could fulfill the objectives of a temple -- as a pure place full of love, a space where people can practice meditation and find peace and a quiet stillness within," says architect Toan Nghiem of a21 Studio. <br />
Pagoda by a21 Studio, Vietnam (2014) —
The word pagoda usually evokes images of tiered towers with upturned eaves. Pagoda, in this case, is stripped down to a single slab of rock -- a place of solitude and worship. "We wanted to create a stone pagoda that could fulfill the objectives of a temple -- as a pure place full of love, a space where people can practice meditation and find peace and a quiet stillness within," says architect Toan Nghiem of a21 Studio.
world architecture festival
This structure was inspired by an image of Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree in Nepal, where he attained enlightenment. Architect Toan Nghiem of a21 Studio says the firm is concerned about Buddhism's decline, and its struggle to adapt to modern society. "We would like to use our architecture as a medium to solve spiritual problems. This is a simple work, but significant enough to spread a powerful idea." <br />
Pagoda by a21 Studio, Vietnam (2014) —
This structure was inspired by an image of Buddha sitting under the Bodhi tree in Nepal, where he attained enlightenment. Architect Toan Nghiem of a21 Studio says the firm is concerned about Buddhism's decline, and its struggle to adapt to modern society. "We would like to use our architecture as a medium to solve spiritual problems. This is a simple work, but significant enough to spread a powerful idea."
World Architecture Festival
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‘Architecture of the VIIth Day’ is shown in the first of four exhibitions during the ‘Power & Architecture’ season at Calvert 22 Foundation running until October 9, 2016. Part one runs until July 3, 2016.