I would like us to think like the Association again
On June 7, during the General Meeting of Delegates of the Association of Polish Architects , Marek Chrobak (SARP Rzeszow Branch) was elected the new president of the SARP General Board. The architect garnered 59 votes of support, while Jakub Krzysztofik (SARP Branch Łódź), who was supported by 30 delegates, and Daria Kieżun (SARP Branch Wrocław), who won 23 votes, also ran for the position. What are her plans for this term?
Marek CHROBAK - a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology, has been running the ArchiGROUP Architecture Studio in Rzeszow since 2001. A member of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, he has been involved in the Rzeszow Branch of SARP for many years (Branch Board Member 2006-2009, Vice President 2009-2012, President of SARP Rzeszow Branch in the 2012-2015 and 2015-2019 terms). From 2019 to 2023, he served as Vice President of the SARP Board of Directors for Internal Affairs (until July 2023) and for Creative Affairs (from July 2023). SARP Competition Judge. Since June 2024, President of the SARP General Board.
Wojciech Fudala:You come from the Podkarpacie region, you chose the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology as your place of study. Why architecture and why Krakow in particular?
Marek Chrobak: Architecture first appeared in the circle of my interests when I was studying at an art high school. When I took my high school diploma, I was already determined that architecture was my target field of study and that it was with this profession that I would like to associate my future. At the time, there was no such department at the Rzeszow University of Technology, so my choices were Lublin, Bialystok, Warsaw and Krakow Polytechnics. Cracow, however, was the closest to my heart and, incidentally, the closest in distance, so it was an easy decision. It is also worth noting that Cracow was a very strong architectural center at that time.
Wojciech Fudala:It's true, there are many great architects who graduated in architecture right in Krakow at the turn of the 20th century. What were your beginnings in the profession like?
Marek Chrobak: I took my first job in my fourth year of university. Together with two friends, Andrzej Depa (long-time chairman of the council of the Podkarpackie District Chamber of Architects) and Marcin Kaminski (chairman of the council of the Świętokrzyska District Chamber of Architects since 2022), we started going to Frankfurt, to a professor of Polish origin - Zbigniew Piniński. We worked there for four years, for a time combining work with studies, and after returning all three of us started in Rzeszow. We even ran a joint author's studio with Andrzej Depa. Today we each have a separate office, but we still maintain a friendly relationship with each other.
Wojciech Fudala:Which of your projects to date would you describe as the best?
Marek Chrobak: This is a very difficult question, but if I have to point to one particular realization, I would choose the Institute of Music at the University of Rzeszow. It was a specific and at the same time very difficult subject. We worked on a building that was listed in the register of historical monuments, while the designer of the original building, Jozef Zbigniew Polak, was still alive. He had his visions, which had not been realized when the Institute was originally built, and now he very much wanted to return to them. On the other side, however, was the Rzeszow City Historic Preservation Officer, who would not agree to any changes to the existing fabric, even though the building's author insisted on them. Thus, there were often bizarre situations, but eventually they managed to control everything and bring the subject to a conclusion.
Institute of Music, University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, 2009
photo: J-k | Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
We also designed churches, multi-family buildings, industrial buildings. Among others, we cooperated with a well-known processing plant in Rzeszow - Alima-Gerber.
Alima Gerber office building, Rzeszow, 2008.
photo: J-k | Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Wojciech Fudala:When and why did you sign up for SARP?
Marek Chrobak: I was encouraged to do so by Romuald Loegler [long-time publisher of A&B - editor's note], whom I consider my architectural ideological patron. He steered me to SARP, making it a kind of mainstay for me of associational thinking about architecture and having discussions about architecture.
I signed up for SARP in 2001. At that time there was no Chamber yet, so it was in SARP that all the architectural life was going on. At first I cooperated in exhibitions and in organizing various SARP events, and then I became part of the Branch Board.
Wojciech Fudala:In 2012 you were elected president of the SARP Rzeszow Branch, and at a similar time your business partner Andrzej Depa became chairman of the IARP Subcarpathian Council.
Marek Chrobak: It was a time when both Andrzej and I really wanted to be active, and to integrate the environment. We wanted to attract young people to the Association and create events that had not previously existed in the Rzeszów SARP. I think it had a good effect, because the events we inaugurated continue to this day as permanent cycles.
Wojciech Fudala:Could you tell us more about them?
Marek Chrobak: These were initiatives we introduced to relieve the burden on architects' heads, and at the same time create an opportunity for them to talk about the professional problems we face. One of them is ArchiNarts, which we inaugurated during my first term. At that time we went to a small mountain, 20 kilometers from Rzeszow. It was already spring and there was practically no snow, but the most important thing was that we were able to meet and be among architects for a few days. Today, ArchiNarts are events gathering more than a hundred people, where integration is really high.
We also came up with a series of ArchiThursdays events, where we invite architects from the best Polish studios with large and recognizable projects. We did the first such ArchiThursday with Zbigniew Maćkow. We assumed that fifteen or twenty people would come, and the event would be held at the headquarters of our Rzeszow branch. In the end, one hundred and twenty people showed up, which meant that during the event we had to move it to the hotel next door, where we managed to rent a room in express mode. This was a signal to us that such events are really needed, and in fact every month SARP Rzeszow hosts a different architect.
Another of the social events we inaugurated was ArchiBal. We stated that if we organize a ball, it is best in castles and palaces. In the beginning, ArchiBal was held in various places in the Podkarpacie region, such as the castle in Krasiczyn. At some point these castles started to run out, and we didn't want to repeat ourselves, so we started doing away balls. The last ArchiBal was held at Książ Castle, and I hope that one of the next editions will also be held at the SARP-owned Tuczno Castle.
Theological and Pastoral Institute, Rzeszow, 2012
© Illustrations provided courtesy of Marek Chrobak
Wojciech Fudala:As a result of the June elections, you became president of the SARP General Board. What from your activities in Rzeszow can be transferred to the national scale?
Marek Chrobak: First of all, what I call the associational spirit. I would like us to think like an Association again. SARP is responsible for creativity, so we will focus our activities on competitions and current challenges of the architectural profession, such as climate protection or inclusive design.
I would also very much like to focus strongly on integration, in a similar way to what we have been able to do in Rzeszow. I hope that in this way we will renew the Association, and gain young architects who will see value in SARP.
Bl. Karolina Apartment Estate, Rzeszow, 2018
© Illustrations provided courtesy of Marek Chrobak
Wojciech Fudala:So how do you envision integrating with Daria Kieżun and Jakub Krzysztofik, who were your contenders for the position of SARP CEO?
Marek Chrobak: Daria Kieżun is on my Board, where she will be responsible for the financial strategy of the Association. Jakub Krzysztofik also made it to the Board, but the day after the election he resigned. It is difficult for me to comment on such a decision. I am sure that we would have found a common language and the associative spirit I mentioned earlier. However, such was Jakub's decision and all that remains for me is to respect it.
Wojciech Fudala:In the previous term of SARP we had several high-profile resignations from the Association, led by Małgorzata Pilinkiewicz or Konrad Kucza-Kuczynski. Do you see room for integration with these individuals as well?
Marek Chrobak: I don't want to comment on the decisions of specific people. The reasons for their resignation are different, but in many cases they are due to some misunderstanding and lack of dialogue. We are an Association of people in the same profession with a wide variety of problems in different fields. Therefore, we need to find a certain culture of dialogue and start talking openly, with full respect for each other's ideals. You mentioned Malgorzata Pilinkiewicz and Konrad Kucz-Kuczynski, so architects with a lot of great projects to their credit. I would very much like to see them decide to rejoin the Association.
Castle Apartments 2 HARTBEX, Rzeszow, 2022
© Illustrations provided courtesy of Marek Chrobak
Wojciech Fudala:Professor Kucza Kuczynski claims that the main reason for his resignation was SARP's silence when the government was considering the construction of buildings unfavorable to spatial order, such as the triumphal arches on the Vistula. Will SARP's voice be heard more this term?
Marek Chrobak: Architecture has it that we like some things more and others less. Just because something doesn't appeal to one person doesn't mean it won't appeal to everyone. It's a very subjective evaluation every time, so we can't react to all such signals that come to us. However, we will certainly react to manifestations of obviously bad architecture and the omission of certain principles of space design. I hope that these reactions will be heard and will be the voice of the whole environment, not just the General Board.
Wojciech Fudala:How would you summarize the past term of SARP in a nutshell?
Marek Chrobak: I started this term as Vice President for Internal Affairs. It was a very tough term, in which we faced many unexpected difficulties caused by the pandemic. On the one hand, it prevented integration activities, and on the other hand, it cut off SARP properties, such as the Castle in Tuczno, the Architect's House in Kazimierz Dolny, and the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw [the headquarters of the SARP General Board - editor's note], from external users. The effects of these restrictions are still being felt today. The castle in Tuczno is practically out of use and no events are held there. On the other hand, a kind of success is that we managed to change the tenant of the Architect's House in Kazimierz. Now we have a great team of people responsible for maintaining the facility there, which creates space for conducting various architectural activities.
Wojciech Fudala:And what is your idea for the Tuczno Castle and the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw?
Marek Chrobak: We want to commercialize these objects to the maximum extent possible, but with full respect for their rank. These are very prestigious places, so total arbitrariness cannot be allowed. I hope that they will be active places, especially in terms of integration and meetings around architecture.
Wojciech Fudala:Staying with the past term of the SARP: why was the "ARCH" magazine abolished?
Marek Chrobak: For purely economic reasons. Publishing a magazine is an extremely expensive affair, and SARP had a difficult financial situation. We had to give up something, and it fell on "ARCH" magazine. At the moment, we have some ideas for reactivating the SARP magazine, although rather in a different form than the former "ARCH".
Office building on Armii Krajowej Street, Rzeszow, 2023
© Illustrations courtesy of Marek Chrobak
Wojciech Fudala:Now let's talk about competitions. We had a lot of high-profile competitions in the previous term, such as the reconstruction of the Saxon Palace in Warsaw, the Museum of Design and Architecture in the former "Cracovia" hotel in Cracow, and the Royal Opera Theater in Warsaw. Currently, all indications are that none of these facilities will be built for political reasons. Could you comment on this?
Marek Chrobak: It is unfortunate that architecture is not disconnected from politics. The competition is decided during the four-year term of parliament, which allocates some specific budget for the realization of the facility. Later, however, a new government comes in, which decides to allocate this budget for other purposes, and we as SARP have no influence on this.
Wojciech Fudala:Don't such situations discourage architects from participating in competitions?
Marek Chrobak: Of course, especially since participation in a competition is not cheap. To do a competition project well, you need to allocate a considerable amount of money and have a staff of people who will work on the project. Thus, for many studios, especially small ones, this is an unattainable good. We would like to change this. Up to now, the competitions organized by SARP have been mainly about large and complicated subjects. However, I believe that competitions could also be about small forms in public space.
Wojciech Fudala:So what do you plan to do to get SARP to organize such competitions?
Marek Chrobak: First of all, I would like to change the functioning of the Competitions Office at the SARP General Board, so that it would handle competitions throughout Poland. The idea is to support local chapters and participate in each of the competitions from the moment the contract to organize the competition is signed, through the regulations, until the whole procedure is carried out and the winners are selected. Currently, the Contests Office has five people, and in the near future we would like to expand it so that local branches can count on consultation at every stage of the contest. At the same time, we would like to exclude the General Board from competition activities and leave their organization to local branches. With the support of the Contests Office, these local branches will be able to handle the contests more professionally, and at the same time organize more of them.
Wojciech Fudala:What ideas do you have for young architects who have just joined the Association and have a lot of energy to act?
Marek Chrobak: We would like young architects to find their place in the Association. Both here, at the Zamoyski Palace in Warsaw, and in every branch. When I was president of SARP Rzeszow, we organized a lot of events aimed at young people, among others, and that in turn made the branch start to rejuvenate. Today SARP Rzeszow is a branch of young studios and young architects, although of course there is room for everyone - those a bit older also find their way there and feel very comfortable. This is the direction in which SARP should go, not only in Rzeszow, but all over Poland.
Interior of an office building on Armii Krajowej Street, Rzeszow, 2023
© Illustrations courtesy of Marek Chrobak
Wojciech Fudala:So what will be the activities of the new SARP Board aimed at the younger generation of architects?
Marek Chrobak: First of all, we want to attract young people to SARP through integration meetings, which will be a platform for them to exchange ideas and talk about architecture. For me, integration is an added value that should always be present in the Association. As for typically architectural issues, we plan to organize architectural competitions for young offices that are just starting out. Such competitions will be aimed at studios that have been on the market for three or four years and have been creating valuable projects, but have not had the opportunity to pan out. As SARP, we want to find these studios and, if possible, give them support. I hope that during our term of office we will also work out further directions to open up more to young architects.
Wojciech Fudala:During the General Convention of SARP Katowice, the newly elected president of the branch stated that young architects do not want to get involved in SARP activities, because they are not interested in working "for free." On the opposite side is Professor Ewa Kurylowicz, who in an interview for the April issue of A&B said that more than money, young architects today are interested in the opportunity to develop and learn from others. Which of these views is closer to you?
Marek Chrobak: I know quite a few young people who are very keen to develop themselves, regardless of financial issues. As the new General Board, we very much appreciate this and want to guarantee young architects the opportunity for this development. I believe that association activities should, as a rule, be pro publico bono. This is exactly how I operate as president of the General Board, often at the expense of my daily work, time and interests. Of course, I wish we had built such a SARP in which work for the Association could be financially rewarded. However, there are things that cannot be done with money, but only through passion and commitment.
Wojciech Fudala:In order for SARP to financially reward those who work for the Association, the help of sponsors is needed. What can be done to attract them to SARP?
Marek Chrobak: One of the plans for my four-year term is to create a Partners Council, which will bring together representatives of companies that cooperate with SARP. This was sorely lacking in previous terms. A sponsor would come, present their products and that was the end of it. There was no feedback on whether that company was at all satisfied with the cooperation. We want to talk to sponsors about their needs, because without them it is impossible to organize events.
Wojciech Fudala:Why - in your opinion - is it worthwhile to be active in the Association?
Marek Chrobak: This is a difficult question on the one hand, and an easy one on the other. Difficult because there are times when I am not able to tell myself convincingly what the Association gives. But then I say to myself that it is I who can give something to the Association. And with such a perspective, activities become much easier.
Wojciech Fudala:Thank you for the interview.
interviewed: Wojciech Fudala
Illustrations provided courtesy of Marek Chrobak.
