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Architecture

Architecture is a word with ancient origins (Latin architector - I build; Gr. archi - chief, tecton - builder). It means the science and art of designing and constructing buildings and other spatial forms, and shaping the space between them. Architecture provides the backdrop for the human life that goes on between buildings.
According to Vitruvius - a Roman architect who lived in the first century B.C. and author of the famous treatise "On architecture books ten," the basic principles of designing and erecting buildings should be based on three guidelines, such as: durability (firmitas), utility (utilitas) and beauty (venustas).

Genesis of architecture

The history of architecture is also the history of human civilization. To this day, we can marvel at the elements of architecture of ancient cultures - Egyptian, Greek or Roman. We can also admire the dominant styles in different centuries - Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Eclectic, Art Nouveau, Modernist, Expressionist, Postmodern, high-tech, Deconstructivist or Futurist architecture. Some will be enthralled by the 19th-century Chicago School or the international style developing in the interwar years in Europe and later beyond; others will be fascinated by 20th-century deconstructivism or minimalism. Traveling, we can admire the architecture of various regions of Poland, Europe and the world. We will then discover that the art of shaping space, this "life between buildings", is diverse and defines individual areas and their inhabitants.

What does an Architect do?

Architect deals with the broadly interdisciplinary design and creation of Architecture. Within its framework, an architect may specialize in one or more of its types: "Large Architecture", "Small Architecture", which may often also include "Design and Industrial Design", "Landscape Architecture" and "Interior Architecture". In each project, the architect must take into account a number of factors and comply with formal and legal strictures, which are imposed by the requirements of construction law, technical conditions, space development. Important factors in the design are the conditions, requirements and preferences of the private or public investor and the target budget.

What are the types of Architecture?

As part of "Major Architecture," an architect designs and provides construction supervision for all types of buildings and private and public utility structures. Its subtypes include residential architecture, public utility architecture, educational architecture, office architecture, commercial architecture, sacred architecture, industrial architecture sports architecture and other types of architecture depending on the function of the buildings being designed. Under "Small Architecture," an architect can design, for example, elements of the urban fabric, such as bus stops, bus shelters, pergolas, playgrounds and recreation areas, urban furniture. Within the framework of "Landscape Architecture", architects deal with the creation of coherent green spaces and landscaped areas at different scales. Architects specializing in "Interior Architecture" deal with adaptations, revitalizations and decoration of old and new interiors, often changing the original function of the building, such as from industrial architecture to residential with specific solutions of decoration, but also internal structures and installations of the building.

office architecture

Architecture varies depending on its function. The most dynamic development today in our cities is office architecture, driven by the profit of private investors. Simple in their shapes, glass houses such as the new headquarters of Orange in Lyon by Hubert Godet and Hardel Le Bihan Architects, or Kraków's Park Club (proj.: MoonStudio), compete here with environmentally friendly buildings like Green Villa (proj: MVRDV) in Dutch Sint-Michielsgestel or Mexican Next Hydroponic Plant (proj.: CC Arquitectos).

residential architecture

The residential architecture residential is growing just as fast today, reaching dizzying prices per square meter of so-called usable residential area (PUM) in metropolitan areas. Multifamily housing is the most popular, such as "Carbon hausing" (proj.: 2H+ Architects) in Katowice. The lucky ones who have the opportunity to buy an apartment in the city center and thus avoid long commutes in traffic jams from home to work, can enjoy big-city living in any of the modern townhouses, such as "The Interlock" (design: Bureau de Change) in London. Lofts continue to be fashionable, and the dream of owning a home near the city is not going away. Single-family homes are springing up like mushrooms, both in the suburbs and in rural areas.

Life outside the city constantly tempts with its idyllic character, while providing many difficulties (long commutes to work and school, lack of adequate infrastructure on site, etc.). Nevertheless, the blocks of modern houses can impress and arouse envy in the average owner of a few dozen square meters in large slab. Under construction on the outskirts of Poznań, The Twisted House (proj.: Banach Architects), Home in the Forest (proj: 081 architekci) located in Lublin's Klementowice or the House in Pieniny are just a few examples of great single-family architecture that is increasingly being designed in Poland. A thus, it is no longer only catalog houses that occupy the minds of Poles (although these are still being built the most), but in many localities you can also find modern residential architecture of the highest order.

architecture of public facilities

A very important sector is architecture public facilities, of which a great number are being built in our country in recent years. Many of these buildings win awards in competitions organized by the Association of Polish Architects or the mayors of individual cities. The public sphere of our cities is extremely important, as it reflects the spirit of our community. Squares, edifices of offices or courts, buildings of schools, kindergartens and universities, blocks of hospitals, museums and other cultural facilities - all this testifies to the level of our social life.

In public space takes place our daily life, so it is important that this space is well organized and aesthetically arranged. We can invariably draw examples of high-quality public architecture from abroad. Facilities such as Danish Water Treatment Station in Hillerød (proj.: Henning Larsen) or the  Landscape for Play playground in Matadero Art Center in Madrid (design: Aberrant Architecture) are stunning and a model to follow. However, it must be admitted that domestic examples of public architecture, such as District Court in Siedlce (design: HRA Architects) are slowly catching up with the level of Western architecture.

architecture & culture

In the last decade, a number of architectural competitions for public buildings have been decided in Poland. An important sector here are buildings pertaining to the area of culture serving the intellectual needs of city residents. These can include museums, galleries, philharmonics, opera houses, theaters, cinemas or community centers. Among the projects selected in recent competitions, noteworthy are, among others, Museum of the Dukes of Lubomirski by WXCA, Center for Literature and Language "Planet Lem" in Kraków designed by the JEMS Architects and Plock Art Gallery by Proarchitecture.

architecture for recreation, relaxation and entertainment

Places that provide entertainment, relaxation and recreation, that is, all leisure spaces, also play an important role in the lives of urban residents. These facilities not only play the role of filling free time in the city, but also become an important element in integrating the community. It should also be remembered that in addition to creating a setting for interpersonal contacts, recreation is also a panacea for all kinds of civilization diseases, sensory overload or stress. Among Polish realizations in the field of architecture of recreation an interesting proposal is Water Park Tychy (proj.: Schick Architects, TKHolding), which was shortlisted for an award in the "Completed Buildings: energy production and recycling" category at this year's World Architecture Festival. From foreign projects, however, it is worth mentioning "Moon club" in Prague (proj.: Formafatal, Machar&Teichman) or underwater restaurant "Under" (proj.: Snøhetta) in Lindesnes, Norway.

architecture of sports facilities and commercial architecture - background for people's meetings

Among the architecture that provides a backdrop for people's meetings, sports facilities architecture and commercial architecture also play an important role. The former are now multifunctional in nature. The largest of them, such as stadiums or sports and entertainment arenas, gather not only athletes and fans - often concerts or other mass events are also held in their spaces, which is why thinking about acoustics is so important in their design process. An interesting sports facility is the WIN4 center (design: EM2N) located in Winterthur, Switzerland. Also noteworthy is the Water and Ice Sports Center (proj.: Restudio Jacaszek Architects) on Lake Ukiel in Olsztyn.

In turn, commercial architecture includes shopping centers, boutiques, stores and showrooms, i.e. spaces where sales and services are conducted. In view of the fact that nowadays they are no longer meant to merely satisfy demand, but also to generate it, they must be visually appealing and at the same time evoke positive emotions. Therefore, their design and furnishing nowadays even requires scenographic talent. Interesting spaces generate with certainty Market Hall in Malmö (design: Wingårdh) or Okio optical salon (proj: Taller KEN) in Guatemala. Of Polish examples, it is worth mentioning Krakow's Serenada shopping mall (design: VISION, Atelier.com Studio Architektoniczne), inspired by the fortifications preserved in Krakow.

architecture of education and sacred architecture

The educational architecture and sacred architecture are also important for the urban community. In the former, it is extremely important that the interiors of schools, kindergartens or universities are user-friendly and create an atmosphere conducive to the learning process. Some extremely inspiring global examples of educational facilities include the "Children's Village" complex (proj.: COBE) in Copenhagen or "flying kindergarten" in Beijing (proj.: MAD). Of the Polish projects worth mentioning is the preschool in Żory (proj.: TOPROJEKT) or the competition concept scientific and didactic pavilion for the University of Warsaw (proj.: 22architects).

TOPROJEKT.

When it comes to sacred architecture, it has accompanied mankind almost since the dawn of time. Today, especially in the world of secularized Europe, in addition to its strictly religious function, it also plays the role of a space for reflection and silence - so needed in our busy and noisy world. Temples are landmarks - landmarks in the space of cities and metropolises. Among the most beautiful ones is the Lebanese Church of St. Sharbel Makhlouf in Zakrit (designed by: BLANKPAGE Architects), a Lutheran church in Våler, Norway, or a Polish Convent of the Franciscan Sisters of Hospitality in Dobrzen Wielki (design: PORT).

architectural revitalization, adaptation and renovation

An important area in architecture is also the issue of adaptation and renovation of dilapidated buildings, as well as revitalization of entire deteriorated city quarters. This is a difficult and demanding process, because in order to breathe a new spirit into a given building or an entire neighborhood, one must respect its previous character and take into account the existing context. Successful examples of architectural revitalization include reconstruction of the Vltava River boulevards in Prague (design: petrjanda/brainwork) or the adaptation of the Wrocław tramway waiting room for InfoWuWa pavilion (proj: arch-it).

What skills are required to become an Architect?

Architecture and Urban Planning and related fields of study are interdisciplinary higher education majors that combine knowledge and skills in the sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, materials science, etc.) with the humanities (construction law, art history, etc.) and the arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, modern audiovisual arts). Nowadays, an Architect most often also needs to be proficient in the use of specialized design support software. Hand-drawing skills (as a rule, still required for the entrance exam), however further very useful for teamwork, presentation and creative work are in practice receding into the background of CAD skills ("Computer Aided Design", or "Computer Aided Design").

How much is earned as an Architect in Poland?

Averaging a number of reports and statistics, and discarding minority salary amplitudes, it can be assumed that architects' current salaries are within the range of PLN 5-15 thousand gross. A junior architect should expect a salary in the range of PLN 4.5-7 thousand gross. An architect with more seniority or BIM skills will earn within the range of 6-13 thousand. The salaries of the best architects with successful architectural offices can oscillate around several tens of thousands. However, it is necessary to take practical allowance for a great many factors variable over time, such as the number and type of orders, the budget of the investment and the investor himself.

Where does an Architect earn the most?

In many countries of the world, the level of remuneration can deviate significantly in favor of the median salary in a given country, and this usually depends on the demand for the services offered by architects. For example, converted into Polish currency in Germany, the average salary of an architect is about 26,000 PLN gross. In the UK, salaries reach PLN 20,000 gross, while in the United States it is PLN 30,000 gross. In some Arab or Asian countries, salaries can be even higher.

Is studying Architecture difficult?

In short: Yes, studying architecture is difficult because of its interdisciplinary nature. As a rule, the study program is very tightly packed with lectures, exercises and assignments in both science and humanities subjects. As a rule, we recommend that people who feel equally comfortable on both sides of this barricade of knowledge take up this field of study, otherwise studies can prove very difficult, discouraging and ultimately a waste of time. Architecture requires constant self-improvement, iron self-discipline and rigorous organization of self-work. Many times, in order to stand out above future competition, it is necessary to undertake domestic or foreign internships, as practice in this profession is probably even more important than theory alone. Architecture is not easy, but - and this will sound like a platitude - it can also shape a person for life, so.... maybe it's worth a try?

Is Architect a profession with a future?

Architect has always been considered a stable and prestige-giving profession like professions like lawyer or doctor. During the recent technology boom, it began to be considered by some as a profession at risk of being partially displaced by AI (artificial intelligence) mechanisms. However, this is unlikely to happen in practice because of the necessary human factor inherent in the profession and its interdisciplinary nature. An architect's original approach, knowledge, distinctive style and skills from a number of scientific and humanistic disciplines are as a whole very unlikely to be replaced by AI learning algorithms. It is likely that artificial intelligence tools will only become a support for the creative human approach in this profession. It seems that the biggest threat to the Architect himself is... another Architect. Mediocrity and stagnation cannot be afforded here. Architecture is a field and the Architect is a profession that are necessary at every stage of the development of civilization and is therefore still a profession of the future.

What passes for Architecture?

Studies of architecture or urban planning are generally included in the offer of technical universities (polytechnics). The profile of the university determines the terms of enrollment. Therefore, in this case, subjects such as mathematics, physics, but also art history will be key. Valuable will be the skills acquired in high schools with artistic or construction profiles, as well as general high schools with mathematical and physical profiles. In Poland, architects are educated by Faculties of Architecture, usually located at the Technical Universities: Warsaw, Krakow, Silesia, Poznan, Wroclaw, Rzeszow, Lublin, Bialystok, Lodz, Gdansk, Swietokrzyska and Opole, as well as private universities such as the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow Academy, the Higher Technical School in Katowice and the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin.

Is it difficult to get into Architecture?

Getting into the field of Architecture and Urban Planning at a high-profile university generally involves a fair amount of competition in the form of a large number of applicants per place. It will be necessary to properly prepare for the exam and create a drawing portfolio at least a few months before the exam itself (it is worth checking the specific requirements of the university for the exam even a year in advance). For those who are determined, but with a fatter wallet, there remains the choice of paid studies, which, as a rule, will allow you to get the same level of knowledge with the same commitment as in full-time studies, however, are usually associated with a really large registration fee and tuition fees.

How much does it cost to study Architecture?

Standard full-time studies in architecture majors at public universities are free. On the other hand, we will have to pay for study at non-public universities and in extramural, evening or part-time modes at public universities. Prices in these cases range from several to even several thousand zlotys for the first year of study, depending on the university.

How many years to study Architecture?

In Poland, architectural studies are two-stage. They consist of 3 or 4 years of undergraduate studies, after which one receives the title of engineer of architecture, and 2 or one year of graduate studies, culminating in the degree of master of engineering of architecture. As of the 2020/2021 academic year, Bachelor's degree studies in Architecture last 8 semesters, Master's degree studies last 3 semesters.

Architectural qualifications

The title of Architect is given to a person educated in the field of Architecture and who is authorized to design buildings. To obtain an architectural license to design without limitation, one must have completed a first and second degree in Architecture or Architecture and Urban Planning. In order to perform independent functions in the design of buildings as an architect and the management of construction works of architecture of buildings, it is necessary to obtain a construction license in the specialty of architecture. For this purpose, it is required to complete one year of practice in drafting projects and one year of professional practice on construction sites. It is worth noting that the acquisition of architectural licenses is related to the acquisition of the necessary practical experience and not theoretical architectural knowledge as such, the quality of which should not depend on the license.

Architectural associations

Polish architects are required to belong to the appropriate district of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland (IARP), the professional body of architects; they may also be affiliated with the Society of Polish Architects (SARP).

What can you do after studying Architecture?

It is worth remembering that the law requires an architecture graduate to obtain an architectural/construction license to design in order to "sign" projects. An architect without a license can take a job in an architectural office and be part of a design team or even carry out certain activities on their own, which will then be reviewed by architects with licenses. Graduates of Architecture and Urban Planning can take up jobs in architectural offices, construction supervision companies, investor supervision, installation inspectorate, urban planning, construction companies - both private and so-called budget companies. It is worth mentioning that the skills acquired at the study of architectural subjects are usually associated with such a high interdisciplinary nature of the knowledge gained that they allow you to take up a profession in a great many technical and humanistic professions. You can become a graphic designer, builder, designer, interior designer, work in an IT company, design cars, ships, infrastructure, urban fabric, etc. It can be said that Architect is a renaissance profession in multidirectionality and one of the most modern in terms of the necessary knowledge and skills acquired.