we needed for a new chimney stack. The outcome is that the house looks incredible, but since we had done some repairs in our houses before, we knew what to do to make this one look good and not to pay a fortune in the process. Here we had to take into account higher costs but it was all worth it. Also the subsidy from the City was a positive surprise to us. GHL: Exactly, and you are the new pioneers here, which makes people very much interested in your house. DH: Just imagine the situation: last winter, right after we moved in, in a total mess, absolutely exhausted, we saw two ladies coming down the path to our front door.
30 View from the garden, 2014. Photography by Natalia and Ernest Dec
When I opened the door they said they wanted to see our house inside. To my
GHL: Have you seen the winning
space. I think this place will get a new
response that it's a private house they
project for the public space
lease of life and everyone will feel
said, "OK, but it's a national monument."
development competition? What do
much, much better here. Besides, we
– "Right, but a private one," I replied. "But
you think of it?
can see how many people are coming
the information board says it has been
DH: We can't wait to see it, but we
and how much they're interested in
renovated with public money," they said
know – from what our neighbours
this place. My colleague from work,
pointing at the board in front of our house.
say – that opinions are split. Now the
who has lived in Wrocław for years,
"Yes, but only the exterior." – "When can we
grounds are embarrassing. People from
didn't know what WuWA is. She saw
see it inside?" I didn't want to be rude, but
all over the world come here. I've seen
WuWA for the first time when she
I also didn't want to let those ladies inside
different visitors: Japanese, German,
was brought here by some Americans.
either; however kind they were. I was
Czech people, English-speakers. They
She told me she was so embarrassed
really perplexed that someone might have
come to see these dense bushes,
when they climbed though some
thought that if it's a monument, they have
houses falling apart and more often
bushes in order to get a better view of
the right to see it. When I finally calmed
than not, disfigured houses that are
WuWA. Now she knows that I live in
down after this curious visit my husband
the victims of not-thought-through
a very important monument because
told me I should have invited them to the
modifications. We are looking forward
people from all over the world come
Museums at Night event.
to this new development of the public
to see it.
*
*
Museums at Night is an annual weekend of late openings, sleepovers and special events taking place in museums, galleries, libraries and archive and heritage sites all over Europe.
WuWA 1929 2014 59