Lares and penates. On building a sense of security in architecture

What is a home – a refuge, a place for everyday life, or perhaps a space that gives a sense of permanence and belonging? The exhibition ‘Lares and Penates. On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture’ examines the ways in which architecture, customs, rituals and symbols help us come to tame uncertainty.

24 September 2026 – 6 January 2027

Following its première at the Polish Pavilion during the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture, the project ‘Lares and Penates. On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture’ is on display at Wawel Royal Castle – a place where the issue of security takes on a historical and communal dimension.

Security is one of the most fundamental human needs. Architecture meets this need by providing shelter and protection. However, a sense of security does not stem solely from the quality of construction, the technology used or compliance with applicable standards. It is also shaped by gestures, customs, symbols and rituals, through which we tame our surroundings and regain a sense of control over the reality around us.

The exhibition’s starting point is Lares and Penates – Roman guardian deities associated with the home and its inhabitants. Their presence serves as a reminder that, since time immemorial, the need for protection has found expression in both practical solutions and cultural practices. The exhibition explores Polish customs, rituals and superstitions associated with building and living in a home, treating them as a testament to collective experiences and ways of taming uncertainty.

At Wawel, this issue takes on a new context. The castle, which for centuries has served as the seat of rulers, a place of defence, and one of the most important sites of remembrance, allows us to view the issue of security from a broader perspective. In this context, protection was not only about ensuring the physical security of people and property, but also about safeguarding stability and the continuity of authority, memory, and values that mattered to the community.

Wawel is a place where the physical aspect of protection meets its symbolic aspect. Royal insignia, works of art, tombs and other objects, as well as places of special significance, were protected not only because of their value. They also served as repositories of memory – preserving history and shared notions of continuity.