Residential architecture in Poland

During the times of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the 19th century when Grand Duchy of Lithuania was united with Poland, the aristocracy built country palaces and manors.

Unlike many European countries there has been less pressure on land (until very recently) which has led to hundreds of thousands of new properties being constructed, mostly by the owner to their own specification although there is a certain style involved.

After the Second World War a growing middle class emerged in Poland and brick-built houses became popular.

The lower ground floor was used for drying meat, storing vegetables, etc., and acting as a useful insulation level.

Typically, Polish houses (both contemporary, more recently-built ones, and older ones built in the 20th century) are surrounded by a fence.

This was a practical move, often in preparation to provide separate space for sons or daughters (who married and had children of their own) while they were saving money for their own house.

However, said sons and daughters would sometimes also choose to live there permanently, partly for financial reasons but also in order to be close with their families.

The lower ground floor layout has remained in most houses, providing garage space, storage areas, games rooms, saunas and more.

The raised ground floor now houses the kitchen (usually the only one) and a reception room, with doors leading out onto a terrace and down to the garden, also a bathroom and perhaps a bedroom or office.

Not square houses, but ones with contours and definition, large entrance halls, sweeping reception rooms, heavily decorated bathrooms with corner hydromassage tubs and more.

Some properties have become disproportionate to the land they are on, leaving the owner with a large house surrounded by a very small garden.

Increased wealth has allowed some Poles to buy a second plot of land, perhaps near a lake, forest or the sea, that they can use during the hot summers.