Dry Ewa Angoneze-Greli's doctoral dissertation from the Faculty of Architecture at Poznan University of Technology, which was defended with distinction , has brought her international recognition and two prestigious awards. The research, which combines migration history with architectural analysis, sheds new light on the legacy of Pomeranian emigrants in Brazil. Who is the researcher and what makes her work stand out?
Inventory drawing of the house of the Jann Neu family
© Ewa Angoneze-Grela
path to success
{She works at the Faculty of Architecture at Poznan University of Technology, and her research activities focus on participatory design, cultural heritage preservation and data visualization. She defended her dissertation with distinction in 2023, the subject of which is the study of skeletal architecture in Brazil in the context of migration from the 19th century.
The researcher is the author of numerous publications, including an article in the renowned Journal of Heritage Conservation. Her research and collaborations with international institutions such as Global Urban Development and Núcleo de Estudos Históricos e Arqueológicos Brasil-Polônia underscore the interdisciplinary nature of her academic work. As an architect, she has completed projects in both Poland and Brazil. She is also the author of many graphic works and visual identities, and her male and female students have won awards in international competitions.
fieldwork
© Ewa Angoneze-Grela
pomeranian traces in brazil
Dr. Angoneze-Grela's doctoral dissertation, entitled "Architecture - Migrations - Identity. A study of the skeletal architecture of the historic region of Colônia Santo Ângelo in Brazil against the backdrop of the 19th century emigration wave from Western Pomerania," is an interdisciplinary study of the impact of migration on architecture and culture.
Field research, conducted between 2015 and 2018 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, identified and cataloged 61 half-timbered buildings built by 19th-century emigrants from West Pomerania. The analysis of these buildings reveals how Brazil's changing climatic conditions influenced the adaptation of traditional building techniques, which originated in Europe. The paper examines in detail the impact of different climatic conditions on the evolution of the typology of Pomeranian houses in Brazil and the role of architecture as an expression of cultural identity. The work also goes back to the roots of the migration, finding the localities from which the colonists originated. These were the vicinity of Szczecinek and Czaplinek, now located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The landscape of the former Colônia Santo Ângelo
© Ewa Angoneze-Grela
The dissertation also touches on the cultural identity of the emigrants, indicating that architecture was not only a means of adaptation to new conditions, but also an expression of their roots and memory of their homeland. The work combines detailed architectural research with a broader historical context, covering both Brazilian and European realities of the 19th and 20th centuries.
international recognition for polish researcher
The dissertation has been recognized both in Poland and internationally. Ewa Angoneze-Grela has won two prestigious awards highlighting the uniqueness of her research.
The first is the ABRE (Associação de Brasilianistas na Europa) Prize, awarded to the best doctoral dissertations on Brazilian topics written at European universities. In the competition, in which papers from universities such as Sorbonne Université and Bauhaus - Universität Weimar competed, the Polish researcher's dissertation won the highest recognition.
The house from Vila Paraiso
© Ewa Angoneze-Grela
The second prize was awarded by the Minister of Development and Technology in Poland in the category of best doctoral dissertation in architecture, construction and urban planning. This award underscores the importance of Dr. Angoneze-Grela's research in the national scientific community as well.
why does migratory architecture matter?
Dr. Ewa Angoneze-Greli's research reveals how architecture reflects processes of migration and cultural adaptation. The half-timbered buildings in Colônia Santo Ângelo are not just historical objects - they are monuments to cultural identity and evidence of the durability of construction techniques that transcended geographic and temporal boundaries.
The work shows that migration does not mean the loss of heritage, but its transformation. Pomeranian emigrants preserved their traditions while adapting to new conditions, resulting in original architectural styles.
A house from Linha Nova
© Ewa Angoneze-Grela
The researcher plans to continue her research on migration and its impact on architecture, also addressing the topics of contemporary urbanization challenges and the use of artificial intelligence in design. Her work is not only an academic achievement, but also an inspiration to further explore the relationship between architecture and culture.
