The eye-popping churches of Communist Poland

Kuba Snopek says that these modern churches are “the most distinctive Polish contribution to the architectural heritage of the 20th Century."
Kuba Snopek says that “the most distinctive Polish contribution to the architectural heritage of the 20th Century." Image: Masur Wikimedia CC0

3,000 churches were built in Poland between 1945-1989, under a communist regime which was staunchly irreligious. So how was this allowed?

It was impossible to set up architectural practices in Communist Poland. Young architects worked tirelessly on housing, office and school designs were frustrated to see their designs being poorly executed. Designing churches provided them respite by providing them a creative outlet. Secretaries in towns such as Glogow were religious and sanctioned construction of these churches. Then a political movement led to a big wave of church construction which saw use of scavenged materials in absence of state sanctioned materials

To read more on the political movement and the response of architects, log on to BBC.

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Doneren