Sustainable Construction Talks is an innovative debate formula that has been used in New York, Dubai, Paris, Brussels and Davos, among others. In Poland, Sustainable Construction Talks meetings have already been held twice. This time the debate was organized during 4 Design Days - an event taking place January 23-24, 2025 in Katowice, Poland. This unique celebration of architecture and design also provided an excellent opportunity to inaugurate Saint-Gobain's 360th anniversary celebrations. The Architecture After Dark banquet was celebrated with an exquisite lineup of nearly 600 guests, including architects, industry professionals and a broad team representing most of the Group's construction brands.
This year, Saint-Gobain in Poland was the main sponsor of 4 Design Days 2025, and participation in such a prestigious event allowed the Group to reach a wide range of experts from the architecture, construction and government sectors, while reinforcing key messages on sustainable construction and the transformation of the sector to reduce its environmental impact.
The Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate, held on the first day of the event, was opened byJoanna Czynsz-Piechowiak, president of the Saint-Gobain Group in Poland and Ukraine. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of architecture for sustainable development and the influence that designers and architects have on the future of construction:
Today here in Katowice we are celebrating a great feast of architecture, which from Saint-Gobain's perspective is very important for our entire business. It is architects and designers who have a key role to play in the transformation towards sustainable construction. This year we are also celebrating the 360th anniversary of the Saint-Gobain Group. It was founded in 1665, when King Louis XIV decided to create the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and, among other reasons, launched the royal manufactory. Over the years, we have followed a path of constant innovation and continue to enjoy our pioneering spirit. This one continues to lead us to discover and create new solutions for our customers.
Joanna Czynsz-Piechowiak launches Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain
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Henryk Kwapisz, director of institutional relations for Saint-Gobain in Poland, introduced the audience to the topic of the discussion, presenting architectural examples that can serve as a model for future sustainable city projects. Among the projects discussed were Biomuseo, the world's first museum dedicated to biodiversity, Unité d "Habitation, Le Corbusier's pioneering project based on the proportions of the human body, and the concepts of the New European Bauhaus. The expert noted that the future of architecture is spaces that are friendly, functional and accessible, providing comfort to users.
Henryk Kwapisz during his presentation at Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain.
photo: press mat PTWP Group
The debate was moderated byJustyna Łotowska, editor ofDobrzemieszkaj.pl and PropertyDesign.pl ( PTWP Group). Among the speakers were: Dorota Bartosz, director of the Sustainable construction in the Polish Green Building Association PLGBC, Klaudiusz Fross, architect, head of the Department of Design and Quality Research in Architecture from the Silesian University of Technology, Piotr Grochowski, chief architect in theARCHE Group, Jerzy Grochulski, architect, urban planner, university lecturer, vice president of the International Union of Architects, Jędrzej Kolesiński, architect, partner at Foster + Partners, and Michal Piwowarczyk, deputy director of the Department of Public-Private Partnerships at the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy. The invited guests addressed the topic of regulations and legislation supporting sustainable construction, zero-emission buildings and financing of pro-environmental projects.
Klaudiusz Fross during the Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate.
photo: press mat PTWP Group
The debate covered, among other topics, the strategy of resident-friendly cities. Klaudiusz Fross told about his research in Singapore, where greenery is an integral part of buildings, and the state supports its use through a system of concessions. The architect pointed out that in order to lower the temperature in Polish cities or increase humidity, it is worth considering programs such as "Green City." The expert gave an excellent example of the University Library in Warsaw, on the roof of which a park has been located. He also gave examples of Polish cities that have been evolving in recent years to become more resident-friendly, such as Bydgoszcz and Katowice. Finally, he called for the introduction of concessions for investors, which could gradually induce them to transform existing buildings to make them more suitable for residents and the environment.
Piotr Grochowski during the Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate.
photo: press mat PTWP Group
Piotr Grochowski drew attention to the problem of legislative inflation, which affects the process of renovating buildings. According to the architect, current regulations cause a lot of complications, and reading them takes too much time, which makes the work of investors more difficult. The specialist noted that given the task of streamlining revitalization projects, simpler regulations could prove more effective than subsidies. He also discussed the issue of technical conditions aimed at improving the energy efficiency of buildings, and pointed out a side effect of their application: the indiscriminate use of petroleum-based products, which - contrary to the pro-environmental intentions of the legislator - could increase the negative impact on the environment. The expert also stressed that an in-depth analysis should be carried out at the initial stage of a modernization project to avoid over-design.
Jerzy Grochulski during the Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate
photo: press mat PTWP Group
In turn, Jerzy Grochulski noted that people decide how cities are shaped. He said that legal regulations are needed, although some require changes. He stressed that the impact of generally applicable regulations on urban space varies greatly from place to place, which shows that their wise interpretation by all users of space is crucial. If the architectural community finds partners in local governments and, more broadly, in society, there will be improvements in urban space. The speaker called for the architectural community to hit its breast in terms of creating good architecture, and pointed out that the kind of cities we will live in depends largely on proper education of the industry and society as a whole.
Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain at 4 Design Days 2025
photo: press mat PTWP Group
Jedrzej Kolesinski touched on the impact of urban planning on carbon footprint. According to the expert, a holistic view of the city model may make more sense than meticulous enforcement of regulations for individual buildings. In this context, Jedrzej Kolesinski cited the example of New York City, where Manhattan residents produce a much smaller individual carbon footprint than suburban commuters across the state. It turns out, then, that detailed regulation alone is not enough - a broader strategy is needed to minimize the climate impact of cities. Sharing his international experience, the architect also noted that outside of Europe, many countries are dynamically following the path of sustainable development. What's more, in his practice, he no longer encounters companies that wouldn't want an environmentally efficient building design - this is a global trend.
Dorota Bartosz at the Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate.
photo: press mat PTWP Group
Dorota Bartosz focused on the need to modernize existing buildings. She stressed that the EPBD Directive on the energy performance of buildings, although often treated as our "bible," should not be the only point of reference. Given the low energy efficiency of buildings in Poland and high energy costs, their operational carbon footprint should be analyzed in the decision-making process. Statistics show that 80-90% of current buildings will still be in use in 2050, making modernization a priority. At the same time, the speaker noted that for new construction, correct counting of the embedded carbon footprint is a must.
Later in the talk, Dorota Bartosz also referred to energy performance certificates for buildings, which for years were treated as optional. Now the announced introduction of energy performance classes is expected to increase transparency and make consumer choices more intuitive, as is already the case when buying household appliances and white goods. The specialist stressed the importance of the government supporting an educational campaign to help users understand what the different classes mean, such as that choosing a building with a lower class entails future investment in upgrades and higher operating costs. She noted that Poland is the last country without an energy class system, so although their introduction is overdue, it is a step in the right direction.
Michal Piwowarczyk at the Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate
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Michal Piwowarczyk spoke on the topic of financing the transformation of cities, noting the availability of EU funds from multiple sources. Sources of funding in the form of non-refundable grants and loans are available to city managers, just reach for them from the National Reconstruction Plan, for example. He noted that another important source of funds is the FENIX program (European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment), which allocates €1.2 billion for urban activities. In addition, European funds for Eastern Poland and regional operational programs offer dedicated funds for urban modernization.
Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain debate. From right: Klaudiusz Fross, Piotr Grochowski, Jerzy Grochulski, Dorota Bartosz, Joanna Czynsz-Piechowiak, Jędrzej Kolesiński, Michał Piwowarczyk, Henryk Kwapisz, Justyna Łotowska.
photo: press mat PTWP Group
This year's Sustainable Construction Talks once again proved that sustainable construction is not only a necessity, but also a huge opportunity for Poland's development. Conclusions from the debate clearly indicate the directions of change: simplification of regulations, guarantee of financial support from the State, release of dynamic modernization of existing buildings, innovative technologies that reduce operational and embedded carbon footprint, and education not only of industry professionals, but of all citizens.
Transcript of the debate broadcast:
On the second day of the event, Saint-Gobain experts continued the discussion by participating in two panels with sustainable construction as their common denominator. In the panel "Sustainable Design. How to create work and leisure spaces?" Monika Rezulak, Director of Design Sales at Saint-Gobain Solutions, shared the Group's experience in designing spaces that are friendly to both people and the environment. The speaker presented specific examples from the Saint-Gobain Group's new publication, The Power of Archinature: https: //www.saint-gobain.pl/potega-archinatury. In turn, Piotr Wereski, Manager of PREFAB Systems and Joint Initiatives at Saint-Gobain, spoke on the panel "Impact of Climate Change on Building Design." Bringing the Group's approach to climate challenges in construction, the expert pointed to prefabrication technology as an example of an innovative and pro-environmental solution.
Sustainable Construction Talks by Saint-Gobain at 4 Design Days 2025
photo: press mat PTWP Group
The Saint-Gobain Group, which is celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025 by participating as the main partner of 4 Design Days, shared its experience and call for collaboration with several thousand participants. The Group's overarching goal of "Making the World a Better Home" guides each of its 160,000 employees in 76 countries. Katowice on January 23-24 was the ideal venue to show that the Group's values translate into vibrant initiatives and sustainable solutions.
