Warsaw 1945-1949: Rising from Rubble

Winner of the 10th Edition of The Architectural Prize
of the Mayor of Warsaw in the Category “ARCHITECTURAL EVENT”

Warsaw rose from the rubble. It became basic building material, and working in the ruins was an everyday occurrence. Reconstruction was a complex process, requiring enormous amounts of work and time. It influenced not only the city’s architecture, but also its spatial landscape. It also had an impact on the revitalizing social and economic relations. The exhibition “Warsaw 1945-1949: Rising from Rubble” is a new look at the myth of the capital reborn after the war and one of the most interesting pages of its history.

The story of reprocessing rubble takes on new importance in the current debate about sustainable construction in times of climate crisis (and the Ukraine war).
The 3 R principle – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – was already applied on a large scale in post-war Warsaw. Today, the production and circulation of building materials are central questions in both architecture and urban planning. The exhibition can provide new material for reflection about the future of architecture in times of climate crisis.

Jury’s comment

We reward the exhibition for a creative illustration of Warsaw history and reconstruction in an unknown context, which adopts new meanings when seen in the today’s perspective of the war in Ukraine. A skilful portrayal of the main theme of rubble as a witness of events, evoking emotions with its authentic and physical nature, proved an interesting part of the city’s history. The theme was further elaborated on in the book and a permanent installation in the city space as an artistic, educational and landscaping arrangement at the foreground of the Czerniakowski Mound and “Operation Storm” Park in Bartycka street.

The Architectural Prize of the Mayor of Warsaw

Muzeum Warszawy

The Guardian

ArchDaily