Integration Through Culture: Swidermajer Villas - unwanted heritage

In Otwock, a pictures town on the outskirts of Warsaw, streets are dotted with fairy-like wooden villas. They were built at the end of the 19th century in the unique style called Swidermajer.

Once a summer accommodation for the wealthy of Warsaw is now, mostly communal houses. Depleting structures with intricate wooden ornamentation show signs of past greatness and are constant reminders of the community that ceased to exist. Unfortunately, there is a little interest in preserving the buildings and discovering the stories they tell.

Join us for the exploration of Swidermajer style and the challenges faced by those who protect it.

Agnieszka Gajc from SWIDERMAJER.INFO - a grass-root organisation fighting to preserve the villas and Frank Monahan, Irish architect and director of the Architecture At The Edge will explore together the style but also the concept of heritage. Is it a social or arbitrary construct?

Who can decide how to preserve the memory of the place. Lastly, what is happening when the cultural map of place is lost or purposely erased?

This webinar is the first in a series. Over the next 6 weeks, we will explore Polish culture through chosen motifs and discuss it with both Polish and Irish experts.

Event online: