Mini Warsaw

If you’re interested in Warsaw’s architectural history, its contemporary design or just have a budding architect or construction engineer in the family then these exhibitions are a must.

Exhibition of Polish Contemporary Architecture 
(artmuseum.pl/en, free, ends Jan 4) While some will revive the extravagant architectural designs of the past, others focus on contemporary projects with greener materials and sometimes agonizingly minimalistic ideals. At the MSN a unique exhibition devoted to Polish contemporary architecture is exhibiting 25 mock-ups of well-known buildings constructed in the last 25 years. Warsaw’s home to three of these award-winning buildings (Polin, Vitkac and the Cosmopolitan Tower). My daughter marveled at the latter as she can see the real thing from her window, though my thrill was peeking at the plans for the riverbank: thumbs up. 

LEGO Exhibition 
(wystawaklockow.pl/warszawa.php, zł. 18/23, ends Feb 15) It might feel like an ‘enter and exit through the gift shop’ exhibition, but if you’re a LEGO lover, with or without children, then it’s worth the visit. I used to ignore instructions in favor of a DIY approach, but even with 500,000 blocks I wouldn’t have come up with the 11 meter long and 3 meter high replica of the Titanic! We were disappointed not to see the PKiN building, but the National Stadium is impressive as are the mosaic faces, Simpsons, Harry Potter and Star Wars models. 

Masovian Voivodeship Miniature Park 
(pl.miniaturymazowieckie.com, zł. 12/8, ends May 1) Visit this exhibition and be amazed at how grand Warsaw used to look less than 100 years ago! Rafał Kunach had a big dream to make up to 50 miniatures of the region’s most impressive buildings, since lost due to decay, lack of finance and war. The basement in Dom Braci Jabłkowskich is bursting with historical facts (PL/ENG), photographic evidence and nine exquisite miniatures. Our favorite was the Guest Mansion, a tasteful market and meeting place: the Arkadia shopping mall of its time! (GBB)