In January 2020, on the initiative of six Polish architectural firms, the manifesto of the Polish edition of the Architects Declare: Polish Architects for the Climate campaign was published. Its signatories announced a push for more environmentally responsible design and construction. Two years after this declaration, we check how the offices that joined the action are doing in implementing pro-environmental practices.
We sent an editorial survey to fifteen studios. In the coming weeks, we will share the opinions, experiences and conclusions of those offices that decided to answer our questions. They concerned not only the implementation of sustainable strategies in new projects, but also the functioning of the studios or refusal to carry out a project that contradicts their values. How are Polish architects responding to the climate crisis?
Jagiellońska 13
Photo: ROARK Studio
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ROARK Studio
What design changes have you made in connection with the climate crisis? Have you modified projects already in development or are you trying to make changes to those you are starting to work on?
Roark Studio collaborates with architecture and technology company Designbotic on simulations, scientific research related to sustainability and the creation of tools that help architects make smart design decisions. We promote pro-environmental solutions in our projects, but we are also sensitive to so-called geenwashing. This means that we apply a dose of skepticism to every novelty.
Jagiellońska 13
photo: ROARK Studio
Our Jagiellońska 13 project completed for NDI Development is the first residential building in the Tri-City to receive a BREEAM certificate at the "very good" level at the design stage. We have two more residential developments pending certification.
If you had to name one project - an illustration of good practices in climate responsible architecture - what would it be and why?
Our design manifesto, which includes both climate-responsible solutions and good practices for the cities of the future, is the competition concept for the development of the area of Kosciuszko Square and the South Pier in Gdynia "Pirs of the Future." We received an honorable mention for this work. The competition was resolved in December 2021.
Pirs of the Future
Photo: ROARK Studio
In addition to the honorable mention, we were placed in the "N" category (i.e., works that cannot receive an award) due to our refusal to complete the cost appendix, which was part of the competition entry. We argued that it is currently more costly to take no action than to do nothing. Our decision to refuse was part of the design idea.
Did you happen to refuse an assignment or abandon a project on ethical grounds?
We have refused orders on many occasions - mainly when it was clear from the initial stage of discussions that we had a different approach to shaping the space with the investor.
Pirs of the Future
Photo: ROARK Studio
Are you calculating the full life-cycle cost of the building and modeling the lifetime carbon emissions?
We are not at that stage yet.
Do you share your knowledge, research and experience related to climate responsible design with other offices?
We share ideas, insights and research through the press (we have also written articles for your magazine) and social media.
Piers of the Future
Photo: ROARK Studio
What are the most important steps to take in the near future? Where do you see the greatest risks? How do you evaluate the effectiveness of the steps you have taken?
The most important thing is to educate the public, which, as the ultimate customer of our projects, has the right to demand ethics from investors and designers in terms of combating climate change, but also in terms of using resources wisely, protecting greenery in cities or building facilities that promote the well-being of users.
Piers of the Future
photo by ROARK Studio
