The Jazdów area in Warsaw is a one-of-a-kind architectonic phenomenon: a unique colony of wooden single-family cottages unexpectedly sitting in the very centre of a populous capital city.
These so-called Finnish chalets were built after World War II as part of the war reparations Finland had to pay. They were erected in Warsaw in 1945 in three locations as temporary housing for architects and employees of the Office for Reconstruction of the Capital ('Biuro Odbudowy Stolicy'). Some were built next to the Polish parliament buildings, at the rear of Ujazdów Park, and the area was christened Jazdów. Although these buildings still exist, their fate is uncertain.
Culture.pl presents their story and the answer to the question: why are there only a few left when there were 27 originally? The story is told by three Jazdów inhabitants in their own words: Barbara Wrzesińska, an actress; Mateusz Baumiller, an architect; and Andrzej Górz who represents the social initiative Otwarty Jazdów ('Open Jazdów').
Written by KL, translated by ND, edited by AZ, 12 Oct 2015