An amphitheater in a historic quarry, a concrete mosaic with a geological layer system in the Leonardo da Vinci Science Centre, and “sand babies” as a symbol of the European Fairy Tale Centre. What do these seemingly distant objects have in common? The architectural regionalism of the Świętokrzyskie region, an inseparable element of which is respect for natural resources and regional construction techniques. The Museum of Architecture in Wrocław and the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning invite you to the exhibition Tectonic Movement, devoted to one of the oldest geologically important areas in Europe.

Centrum Bajki, Pacanów, fot. T. Kubaczyk / NIAiU

The Świętokrzyskie Province is rich in mineral resources: deposits of sandstone, limestone, iron ore, copper and lead, as well as unique striped flint. It is here that scientists have discovered the oldest traces of land animals in the world, left by a tetrapod. One could say that “we are all from Kielce”. Meanwhile, the architectural regionalism of the Świętokrzyskie region remains undiscovered for many.

The exhibition “Tectonic Movement” can be a good starting point to consider the wealth and diversity of building materials that occur in individual regions of our country - says Michał Duda, director of the Museum of Architecture in Wrocław. - We know that Silesia is a true treasure trove of many ores - in no other place in Poland can we find such huge resources of rocks and minerals, for example granite, which is extremely popular here. And what is the main building material of the architecture of the Kielce region? Let’s find out!

Kościół Rozalii i Marcina w Zagnańsku, fot. T. Kubaczyk / NIAiU

Tectonic Movement exhibition presents the most important objects and treasures of the Kielce region. From hospitals and schools that were built before World War II, through socialist realist buildings erected in the fifties, to huge housing estates and expressive structures of the late modernism period. The exhibition presents iconic objects, unpublished works and contemporary projects inspired by local nature and landscape. We will see unique films, photos and original drawings, as well as porcelain models inspired by the Ćmielów tradition, fragments of local raw rocks used in construction and ceramic tetrapods.

The richness of the architecture of this region does not result from the number of outstanding buildings or famous names of designers. The most interesting things in the history of local architecture are its continuity, coexistence with the landscape and the use of natural resources. Drawing on traditional techniques, work in complicated terrain and landscape values have caused the architecture of the region to develop individual features, from which contemporary architects can learn a great lesson in humility and respect for the natural resources and construction traditions of the Kielce region - says Kacper Kępiński, curator of the exhibition and author of the architectural guide accompanying the exhibition. - It is also a region rich in original solutions, often the result of creative cooperation between architects and artists. The foyer of the Kielce Cultural Centre, designed by Andrzej Grabiwoda, with chrome chandeliers and amazing bas-reliefs by Adam Wolski, is today one of the most valuable examples of interior architecture from the PRL era in Poland.

Kieleckie Centrum Kultury, fot. T. Kubaczyk / NIAiU

• Organiser: Narodowy Instytut Architektury i Urbanistyki  
• Co-organiser: Muzeum Architektury we Wrocławiu  
• Research curator: Prof. dr hab. arch. Bolesław Stelmach 
• Curator: Kacper Kępiński 
• Arrangement of the exhibition: Dominika Janicka, Kacper Kępiński 
• Visual identity: Katarzyna Nestorowicz  
• Graphic design of the exhibition: Dariusz Ścisło, Agnieszka Serwicka 
• Producers: Mateusz Włodarek, Wiktoria Litwinowicz 
• Accompanying program: Marta Baranowska, Marta Czyż, Kalina Soska 
• Communication: Dominik Witaszczyk, Aleksandra Zaszewska, Marta Czyż, Kalina Soska 
• Translations: Natalia Raczkowska 
• Exhibition implementation: TERPLAN, Jerzy Brunner, Piotr Szyszkowski  
• Mockups: Marta Dachowska 
• Partners: Muzeum Ziemi PAN, Muzeum Historyczno-Archeologiczne w Ostrowcu Świętokrzyskim, Instytut Dizajnu w Kielcach   

Thanks to: Karolina Andrzejewska-Batko, Krzysztof Myśliński, Rafał Zamojski, Marcin Bednarczyk, Joanna Nowak, Rafał Wolski, Aleksander Salij, Wojciech Mazan, A2P2 architecture&planning, eM4 Pracownia Architektury Brataniec, XYstudio Pracownia Architektoniczna, RSM Armatury w Kielcach, MZD Kielce, Muzeum Historyczno-Archeologiczne w Ostrowcu Świętokrzyskim    

Consultations: Anna Piontek, Michał Loba, Krzysztof Maliszewski, Ewa Nosowska