Spółdzielca

Story

Spółdzielca is the neighbour every block of flats dreams of: a cheerful dwarf coming home with a shopping bag over his shoulder and the house key in his other hand. He lives in a quiet courtyard of the Powstańców Śląskich area, away from the tourist crowds, where the paths are lined with grass and low walls. His cap, moustache and upward glance give him the look of someone who has just spotted a friend at a window. Legend among local dwarfs has it that he never forgets the bread, and that he knows every resident of the building by the sound of their steps.

History & Significance

Spółdzielca appeared on 21 September 2021 during a celebration of the 75th anniversary of a Wrocław housing cooperative, the same ceremony at which a new square, Plac Spółdzielców (Cooperators' Square), was named. Wromap lists Tomasz Moczek as the sculptor. Sources differ on who exactly stands behind the dwarf: one tourist guide says it was funded by Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa Wrocław-Południe, while a local news report says the original Wrocławska Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa, founded in 1946, later split into six cooperatives that marked the anniversary together. Sources also differ on the address: Swobodna 12, Skwerowa 9, or Skwerowa 9 / Swobodna 12-16 in the courtyard. Wrocław's bronze dwarfs trace their roots to the Orange Alternative, a playful protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls; since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now well over a thousand of them.

Inspiration

Spółdzielca celebrates ordinary life in Wrocław's housing estates. According to the city's dwarf guide, he is a resident of a block of flats with a shopping bag that holds a bread roll, and the key in his other hand shows he is at home in Wrocław. Blocks of flats make up a big part of the city's landscape, and the dwarf reminds visitors that dwarfs live there too.

Fun Facts

• He was unveiled on 21 September 2021, together with the naming of a new square, Plac Spółdzielców (Cooperators' Square).
• In one hand he carries a house key, a sign that he is a settled resident of the city.
• His shopping bag holds a bread roll, according to the city's dwarf guide.
• He marks the 75th anniversary of a Wrocław housing cooperative; the original Wrocławska Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa was founded in 1946.
• He is about 1.4 km from the Market Square, and the nearest dwarf, Promyczek, is only 87 m away.

How to Find This Dwarf

Look for the courtyard behind the blocks at Skwerowa 9 and Swobodna 12-16, because sources give slightly different addresses. If you start at Promyczek, walk about 87 m to the east. From Ottuś, head about 180 m to the northeast. The dwarf stands beside a paved path with grass around it, so keep an eye out at ground level.

Nearby Dwarfs

Frequently Asked Questions

Accessibility

Ground LevelOutdoor

Stands in a courtyard beside a paved path with grass around it. Photos show a flat approach; the exact spot between Skwerowa 9 and Swobodna 12-16 is worth checking on arrival.