The Birthplace of Fryderyk Chopin, Musem in Żelazowa Wola – permanent exhibition

Design: 2014
Construction: 2015
Investor: Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina
Location: Dom Urodzenia Fryderyka Chopina, Żelazowa Wola

Team:
Boris Kudlička
Natalia Paszkowska
Marcin Mostafa
Dorota Wilczyńska
Grzegorz Makarewicz
Michał Bartnicki
Iza Rogucka

Alina Rybacka – graphic design
Piotr Korduba – historical consultant

Photos: Daniel Chrobak

Design of the new permanent exhibition in The Birthplace of Fryderyk Chopin in Żelazowa Wola, Poland, shows the historical context of the building. Originally an annex it has changed its appearance throughout the years and today has features of a traditional manor house, however the first interior layout remains the same.

The concept of the exhibition was to partialy restore functions and arrangements of historical interiors.

The house was divided into northern and southern parts by the hallway joining shorter sides of the building. Both parts have enfiladed rooms which creates a natural direction for sightseeing. This direction also indicates a chronology within the exhibition’s storytelling- first room showing the earliest times when the manor was a property of Skarbek family, passing on to Chopin’s era and then to the interwar. Finishing the exhibition are last two rooms presenting the complete story of The Birthplace and the surrounding park in a contemporary way.

Authentic furnishings and details from the turn of the XIXth century were reconstructed in first two rooms. The chamber where Fryderyk Chopin was born is intentionally left almost empty. The pianoforte, flower bouquet, bust and an inscription on the wall give a symbolic quality to the space.

The second part of the building shows a younger face. Rooms are arranged with a mix of antiques and modern objects inspired by biedermeier style, as well as furniture designed by Spółdzielnia Artystów ŁAD- cooperative of artists practising applied arts, formed in 1926.