The 9th edition of the PLGBC Green Building Symposium under the theme "Driving positive change" was accompanied by the gala of the PLGBC Green Building Awards 2019, during which the best green buildings, interiors, products and green initiatives in Poland were awarded. We congratulate the winners and look forward to following further good practices and modern solutions!
The idea behind the competition organized by the Polish Green Building Association and the awards given in it is to promote modern solutions for sustainable construction. Dedicated to companies in the construction and real estate industry, the competition is the only initiative of its kind that recognizes the best green building projects in Poland.
The jury, composed of Prof. Ewa Kuryłowicz, Robert Konieczny, Wojciech Małecki, Justyna Biernacka, prof.Wacław Celadyn, Elżbieta Dziubak, Jakub Kuszewski, Jakub Lewkowicz, Bartosz Marcol, Ewa Kowalska-Ocneanu and Dr. Aleksandra Witeczek evaluated the submitted works in terms of values related to green building and sustainable development, paying attention to architectural and aesthetic qualities, as well as the innovative solutions used in the project.
This year, new categories have been added to the competition, recognizing the best modernized or expanded buildings, green housing, and urban/municipal investments. As the organizers emphasize, this is a response to market requirements - the expanding scope of green building in Poland and interest in the competition from increasingly specialized segments of the construction market. The statues for the winners of the PLGBC Green Building Awards 2019 competition were designed and prepared by Horizone Studio.
Statues for the winners of the competition designed by Horizone Studio
© PLGBC
Category 1 - Best completed
green certified building
Winner: Szucha Premium Offices [info].
project: Stelmach and Partners Architectural Office
investor: Green Property Group
Szucha Premium Offices is a LEED Platinum certified building. The system of indoor vertical gardens combines with green roofs and vegetation on the outside of the office building, thus supporting not only the health of the users, but also the biodiversity level of the plot. Green walls have a positive impact on the comfort of the people in the building, increase the humidity of the air and the aesthetics of the space, while plants outside reduce the urban heat island effect and the amount of rainwater discharged into the stormwater drainage system.
honorable mention: V.Offices
design: Iliard and Associates
investor: AFI Europe
V.Offices is a building that uses a district heating system that is a combination of highly efficient low-emission cascading gas boilers and renewable energy from rooftop solar panels. The building's awarded the highest rating in the BREEAM certification (that is, outstanding) underlines the maintenance of high parameters also in air quality, acoustics and space shaping.
Category 2 - Best completed building
Eco-friendly without a certificate (or pre-certified)
Winner: Cichy Dom
design: TOPROJEKT
The Quiet House was built just 100 meters from the highway exit, and thanks to simple and aesthetic solutions, it is indeed quiet. Thanks to its elongated form and location along the road, it acts as a noise screen. Although isolated from the noise, the house is not closed to its surroundings - large glazings open the interior to the expansive garden.
Category 3 - Best ecological project
Winner: Symbiotic House
design: BXBstudio Bogusław Barnaś and Design Studio Paweł Jarosz
The Symbiotic House is an attempt to define the concept of living in symbiosis with nature. Among other things, the design of the house envisages the construction of a swimming aquarium that will allow the householders to observe natural flora and fauna, a greenhouse that will allow growing plants all year round, and an energy accumulator - a symbiotic fireplace. Simple in its form, the Symbiotic House can function both in the countryside and in the city, and, in combination with other similar buildings, can create entire estates that would be a substitute for rural life in cities.
honorable mention: Passive Kindergarten in Podkowa Leśna
Project: Bjerg Arkitektur Polska
Investor: City of Podkowa Leśna
The design of the building in Podkowa Leśna makes it possible to create a fully passive kindergarten, and thanks to its aesthetic form, it will create good habits in creating architectural and ecological awareness in the youngest. Importantly, the heart of the building is a tree, around which the body of the kindergarten was designed.
Best student ecological project
Winner: Breath
design: Malgorzata Barwinska, Justyna Bielak, Kamil Brończyk, Natalia Choinacka, Aleksandra Debicka, Laura Janik, Weronika Radzięta
The competition jury awarded the work entitled "Breath" for its multifaceted approach to the designed object. The authors faced the problems of the modern city, which are air pollution, displacement of greenery by intensive development and aesthetic deficits. The proposed technical solutions, construction materials and vegetation were chosen to maximally reduce the negative impact of the building on the surroundings.
honorable mention: Synergic Coffee Roastery
design: Natalia Steblewska, Marta Stróżczyńska
The jury singled out the work titled "Synergic Coffee Roastery" for tackling the very current and at the same time difficult topic of circular economy. The object designed by the authors is conceived as circular both in function, form and the technical and material solutions used.
Category 4 - Best ecological
multi-family residential development
Winner: Botanica Jelitkowo - building A1-A2
design: Maarte
investor: Invest Komfort
Botanica Jelitkowo creates green spaces that integrate residents and refers to the need for human contact with nature. In the design, rainwater is drained from paved surfaces into the greenery instead of into the sewer system, so the water is retained by the plants. Green roofs have been designed on every part of the building, natural wood, raw galvanized steel have been used for all room finishes, clinker brick has been used for the facades, while raw concrete has been used for the walls, walls and field stairs.
honorable mention: Implementation of an ecological multifamily building with support, Gdańsk
design: chief designer: Leszek Pierzchliński - Ekoinbud; concept author: Wojciech Pilacki - Ecologiq
investor: Municipality of Gdańsk
The project "Ecological house with apartments with support at Dolne Młyny Street" was implemented under the "Gdańsk Social Housing Program for people/families at risk of social exclusion for 2016-2023". The building has a prefabricated wooden structure and takes less than half a year to construct. When the building is in use, energy consumption costs are 40 percent lower than in traditional masonry buildings. The multi-family building is an example of a project that reduces both construction and operating costs, with environmentally friendly solutions in a situation where rapid construction is required.
Category 5 - Best ecological expansion/modernization/renovation
Winner: Koneser Press Center
design: Juvenes Project
investors: Liebrecht & wooD and BBI development
Centrum Praskie Koneser was built in 2018 on the site of the former Warsaw Vodka Factory in Warsaw's Praga district. Currently, the post-industrial space includes office, retail, restaurant, exhibition, conference, hotel and residential sections. Koneser uses the latest methods of monitoring energy and water consumption, and is distinguished by the buildings' very good thermal parameters and high daylight availability.
honorable mention: Malta House
design: Pentagram Architects
investor: REINO Dividend 2 / Reino Partners
Poznan's LEED Platinum-certified Malta House has undergone a full renovation after five years of existence and has been awarded a second LEED Platinum certification. The building features a number of energy-efficient solutions, such as a harmony-shaped façade that reduces solar heating.
Category 6 - Best completed
environmentally friendly public sector building
Winner: Wodny Park Tychy [info].
design: Schick Architects by TKHolding
investor: RCGW S.A. / City of Tychy
The Tychy Water Park works in synergy with the sewage treatment plant - heat and energy are generated from waste biogas, so the building creates a self-sufficient energy system that could almost entirely cover the energy needs of as many as two such complexes. Excess heat is discharged into the city's district heating network.
honorable mention: nursery in Wągrowiec
design: Pracownia 21
Investor: Municipality of Wągrowiec
The nursery building in Wągrowiec is equipped with modern solutions that improve air quality, acoustics and optimize energy generation and consumption.
Category 7 - Best sustainable interior
Winner: Botanica Jelitkowo - fitness zone
design: LOFT Magdalena Adamus
investor: Invest Komfort
The fitness zone is one of the spaces performing both relaxation and social functions. Its windows overlook a green area, and the interior uses natural, friendly finishes that do not emit harmful pollutants into the air.
honorable mention: L'Oréal House Warsaw in the Warsaw Breweries
design: Trzop Architekci
investor: L'Oréal
The new L'Oréal headquarters in Browary Warszawskie was recognized for its use of modern solutions that support the comfort and health of employees and fit into the post-industrial character of the building.
Category 8 - Green Product of the Year
Winner: GreenLife Technology - rainwater recovery and gray water recycling systems
Green Water Solutions
GreenLife solutions for rainwater recovery and gray water recycling make it possible to effectively reduce the amount of wastewater discharged from a building and the consumption of potable water for non-food purposes. The water obtained can be used for flushing toilets, cleaning or watering the greenery around the building. In a medium-sized office building, a water recovery system can save as much as 10-20 thousand liters of water per day! The GreenLife product series has been awarded for its multi-level impact on sustainability.
Honorable mention: Oklin GG02
Interseroh
The Oklin GG02 is a small device, similar to a freezer or small refrigerator, that composts bio-waste. It does not generate unpleasant odors, and the resulting pre-compost can be used to fertilize potted plants or greenery around the building. The solution was recognized for facilitating the extremely important process of waste segregation.
Category 9 - Best ecological
urban/municipal initiative
Winner: Reduta Park in Cracow
design: JWMS Authors' Design Studio
investor: City of Kraków
Reduta Park is an established urban park in Krakow on wasteland. In its area there is a historical entrenchment from the 19th century, and the whole establishment is maintained in the character referring to local and supra-local traditions dating back to pre-Christian times, which strengthens the atmosphere of the place. The park has introduced paths, lighting, small architecture, a recreational pavilion, a summer cinema and playgrounds. What's more, natural materials were used to finish and build the necessary elements.
honorable mention: Drinking water sources in local schools (Gdynia, Rumia, Wejherowo)
project: Topserw (owner of ZDROJOWNIA brand)
investor: City of Gdynia
The initiative to equip Gdynia and nearby schools with aesthetically pleasing and hygienic water springs was appreciated for its health-promoting, educational and pro-environmental nature. Thanks to this solution, schools are provided with unlimited, free access to drinking water from the city's water supply. What's more, by not drinking water from plastic bottles, and using their own reusable bidons, students do not pollute the environment and shape ecological behavior.
