Uncovered: The hidden history of 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.

Head to The Spaces to find out more about these eye-catching establishments.

‘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.