Allotment Gardens
Poland, winter 2017.
An allotment garden is a piece of agricultural land divided into individual plots for non-commercial gardening and food cultivation. Beyond its practical purpose, it often serves as a place of recreation and connection with nature. Plot holders are permitted to build small allotment houses on their rented land.
According to Polish construction regulations, an allotment house is defined as a small building with a maximum floor area of 35 m² and a height of up to 5 metres. It may include a terrace, porch, or veranda of up to 12 m² and does not require a building permit.
This series presents eight allotment gardens where small recreational houses have become year-round homes, often inhabited by families. For some residents, they offer the only accessible form of independent living as conventional housing becomes increasingly unaffordable. Despite serving as homes, these spaces remain in a legal grey area and can be reclaimed by city councils for future redevelopment or infrastructure projects.
