What form can architecture take when created without an architect and without permission? What happens when we remove both designers and their values from the process?

The exhibition “Private Property” draws inspiration from Polish building projects at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. This period, marked by the decline of communism and chaotic capitalism, saw the rise of alternative architectural practices. Self-builds reflect the spirit of this era, showcasing its aspirations and aesthetic preferences more vividly than legitimate architecture.

Self-builds often arise from identifiable economic, social, or political reasons. Despite their origins, these buildings typically face legitimate legal objections. However, “Private Property” will not focus on these legal issues.

The exhibition will concentrate not on answering the question ‘why,’ but rather on ‘how’ the self-builds were and are realized. It presents a selection of buildings created without permits and, therefore, without restrictions. These buildings have taken on the most interesting and unusual forms, which are often controversial and provoke heated debates.

Each building is an example of architecture with a strong point of view. It is expressive and uncompromising, making mistakes with brazen self-confidence. The architecture can be risky and even dangerous at times. It always prioritizes individual freedom over collective harmony. It is a manifestation of the idea that one can be oneself in one’s own home, and it is nobody else’s business.

The exhibition will not feature documentation of any of the objects. Instead, we will experience them through the artistic comments of creators invited to contribute. These comments shed new light on the portrayed self-builds. They are not always favorable or critical but offer a new perspective. They help us distance ourselves from our own opinions, perceptions, and prejudices. Ultimately, they prompt us to consider what we can learn from the Czarny Kot hotel, the castle in Łapalice, or the villa in Jastrzębie-Zdrój.