Preface WuWA is one of the six model housing estates created by the Werkbund, built in Europe at the turn of the 30s of the last century. These estates were an experiment of special importance, and it influenced the development of modern architecture of the twentieth century. Currently they are unique objects of immeasurable cultural value, fully protected by the Historic Preservation Officer. The first estate was Weissenhof in Stuttgart, built in 1927. It was not only an outcome of a one-of-a-kind collaboration between European avant-garde architects, but also acted as a meeting place and a trigger for the international modernist movement in general. In only five years the following model housing estates were built in: Brno (1928), Wrocław (1929), Zurich (1931), Vienna and Prague (1932). An innovative look at the urbanisation process, overpopulation in cities, society's expectations in terms of living conditions and the ability to apply the latest technologies in construction – these were the challenging aspects of the post-war period that urban planners and architects had to face. The Werkbund housing estates are proof that the European architecture avant-garde was an international movement to be reckoned with. In spite of major disagreements between individual representatives and tendencies, the sections of the Werkbund were able, in collaboration with cities and public institutions, to create and carry out local housing exhibitions. They expressed the optimistic attitude towards the modern democratic world where it is possible to fulfil the needs of the population. Even though the housing exhibitions did not fully manage to meet the stated aims, namely, creating inexpensive housing using prefabricated elements, they presented new ideas in the field of construction and architecture. Thus the WuWA housing estate is a unique complex of cultural heritage on a world scale. Fortunately it has been preserved to this day unchanged, unlike the Stuttgart housing estate whose many buildings were damaged during the war, or Prague and Brno where individual houses were largely rebuilt. Additionally, its attractive location directly next to the Centennial Hall, the Zoo and Szczytnicki Park with the Japanese Garden is undoubtedly its huge advantage. Despite that,
6 WuWA