Article from A&B issue 05|2023
How to shape good residential architecture?
When designing residential architecture, we try—though of course we don't always succeed—to follow our general principles. We keep in mind that we spend most of our lives among residential architecture, and as Renzo Piano said, „You can turn down bad music, put down an uninteresting book, but you can't avoid the ugly block across the street...”.
Port II—a complex of residential buildings with first floor retail and services—Warsaw | proj.: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
© APA Wojciechowski Architekci
That is why, first of all, we try to design as beautifully as possible, with respect for the context and with dialogue. This does not mean designing expensively and extravagantly—the second of our principles is to design on a strong economic basis, according to the needs of the market. Third, we try to design in a way that is open to the future, to unforeseen changes and possible future transformations of the building. For example: we understand that the market now demands that micro-apartments be built—we don't like it, but we don't quite believe that it can be stopped legislatively. So if such mini-apartments are being built, then necessarily with a plan to convert them into normal apartments. Fourth, we don't try to follow the latest fashions—we are aware that fashions pass. Build a classic, not a bestseller. One of the worst phenomena in our environment are fifteen-year-old buildings that are already out of fashion, not yet vintage. And fifth, the obvious: as designers, we must always be ready to design according to the latest knowledge and technology, especially in the field of sustainable construction.
Port II—a complex of residential buildings with first floor retail and services—Warsaw | proj.: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
© APA Wojciechowski Architekci
In the early stages of design, optimization—starting with the urban scale and ending with the details—is the cheapest and most effective. It's sad that the certified environmental performance of residential buildings (as opposed to offices) is not currently an important factor in assessing the attractiveness of a residential offering. One would like the customer to be aware when buying a condo that if the unit is not highly certified, no one will buy it in the future, as is the case with offices or cars.
Port II—a complex of residential buildings with first floor retail and services—Warsaw | proj.: APA Wojciechowski Architekci
© APA Wojciechowski Architekci
Szymon Wojciechowski
APA Wojciechowski Architects
