Museum of Architecture in Wroclaw

Museum of Architecture in Wroclaw is the only museum institution in Poland dedicated entirely to the history of architecture and contemporary architecture. The institution is organized by the Municipality of Wroclaw. Museum carries out programs andevents for architects, historians and the general public. It preparesexhibitions on architecture, applied art, painting and graphics. Most of the exhibitions are accompanied bypublications in the form of scientific dissertations, catalogues or folders. The museum cooperates with the city authorities in protecting and revitalizing the architectural heritage of Wroclaw.

The beginnings of the Museum of Architecture collection constituted of architectural details from Wroclaw’s medieval buildings destroyed during the Second World War. Only a small part of the collection was inherited from the pre-war Silesian Museum of Artistic Crafts and Antiquities, which since 1928 was housed in the former Bernardine monastery that has been the seat of the Museum of Architecture until the present day.

In time, the collection grew by further exhibits from different eras, thanks to transfers from the Provincial and Municipal Conservator of Monuments, donations from individuals and regular purchases. Exhibits were also acquired through rescue excavations conducted in devastated or destined for demolition Wroclaw houses and ruined Silesian manors and palaces.

Today, next to the stone architectural details. the collection consists of the arts and crafts exhibits (including stained glass windows, furnaces, architectural ceramics and ceilings), wooden sculpture, a large collection of artwork from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, numerous architectural designs, photographs, works of contemporary art, products of industrial design and models.

www.ma.wroc.pl