Since its beginnings, architecture has been fundamentally about shelter and protection. Today, however, its role extends beyond mere physical security, especially amid a world of rapid change and instability. The Polish Pavilion’s exhibition, "Lares and Penates: On Building a Sense of Security in Architecture," offers a compelling exploration of how architecture can nurture emotional and cultural well-being alongside safety, through the lens of architectural anthropology.

The project is led by a multidisciplinary team - Aleksandra Kędziorek, Maciej Siuda, Krzysztof Maniak, and Katarzyna Przezwańska - who aim to perceive architecture from the perspective of its inhabitants. By suspending traditional judgments, the exhibition focuses on the fears, desires, and deep-seated needs of people, blending emotional and rational approaches. It emphasizes that architecture’s protective qualities are rooted not only in regulations but also in collective cultural memory and symbolism.

Drawing parallels from ancient Roman deities Lares and Penates, the exhibition highlights how guarding and domestic safety are universal concepts embedded in cultural traditions across Poland and beyond. Simple customs - such as candles in windows or threshold markers - are examined alongside modern safety elements like fire alarms and emergency exits, illustrating how both material and symbolic protections coexist within architectural space.

The exhibition avoids digital abstraction, instead presenting tactile, full-scale objects that bear cultural significance. These thoughtfully curated items - ranging from safety devices to symbolic artifacts - are integrated into an engaging scenography that underscores architecture’s humanistic dimension. Ultimately, the display advocates for a conscious approach to architecture - one that harmonizes safety, emotion, tradition, and cultural memory to address contemporary realities.