Modernizations and renovations, values and sentiments, resources and time. The debate "Transformation of Matter. Transformations, remodels, renovations," held during this year's Budma, was attended by architects Jakub Szczęsny and Oskar Grąbczewski, the mayor of the city and municipality of Pleszew Arkadiusz Ptak, A&B editor-in-chief Małgorzata Tomczak, and the conversation was conducted by architecture critic Jakub Głaz.
There is no better place on the map of Poznan to discuss the transformation of space. The Poznań International Fair hosting the debate is a laboratory of transformation and architectural change, and the subject matter of the meeting itself is extremely broad and touches on aspects of the transformation of buildings, spaces and materials. Building on what already exists is nothing new in the history of architecture and cities - but perhaps in 2022 we look at the matter differently than before.
Pictured: Małgorzata Tomczak, Jakub Szczęsny, Jakub Głaz, Arkadiusz Ptak and Oskar Grąbczewski
© Mayor of Pleszew Town and Municipality
architectural ego
According to Jakub Szczęsny, "the new" reigns supreme over what already exists because of the cultural codes we have created. Who does not know the famous saying "he found Poland wooden and left it brick"? The development fueled after the Industrial Revolution, as well as the show of power and strength, the building of legends and the making of political capital - all these aspects lead us to believe that what is new is simply better. As Malgorzata Tomczak notes, a factor we must confront is the paradigm of continuous growth. It is necessary to recognize that "re-consumption" is essential, and to redefine the system in which we live so that continuous growth is not the only goal. According to Oskar Grąbczewski, on the road to re-use appears the ego of the architect, who participates in the race towards the search for new forms, ideas and innovation, feels the desire to appear and create a new icon, because these are what we visualize before our eyes when we think about architecture. If this novelty is missing - one can feel unsatisfied. And at the same time, what is renovated, even with an average entrance value, can be much better than a new building. After all, existing buildings have already been proven in their place by the community and have grown into the landscape.
catching the elusive
According to Malgorzata Tomczak, we have reached the stage where we should not wonder whether it is worth renovating the existing architectural fabric, but take it for granted. Renovation should take place wherever there is potential for the process. The editor cites the example of the post-industrial heritage of Nowa Huta taken during the International Architecture Biennale Krakow 2021 (under the theme "RE-USE"). Due to the lack of access to the areas around the steelworks - this legacy is unknown to the Cracovians themselves. So it would be best not to demolish these buildings, but to preserve them as a testimony to the place, time and history. Here, however, there is a need for systemic, comprehensive and legal solutions related to, for example, simplifying tax issues so that they are not the cause of demolition. Otherwise, the industrial heritage of Nowa Huta will be seen only in photos and postcards. Oskar Grąbczewski notes that by demolishing and filling the space with new objects we lose that "something." Something intangible that cannot be replaced by new architecture. The question is how to preserve this tissue? After all, investments that save existing facilities are much more expensive and economically challenging. Arkadiusz Ptak spoke about the difficulties in financing the needs of small towns like Pleszew - cultural investments and municipal needs often weigh in the balance. However, Pleszew can boast of facilities where life goes on briskly. The restored train station building houses a library, and the former steam locomotive depot is a community center.
pictured: Małgorzata Tomczak, Jakub Szczęsny, Jakub Głaz and Arkadiusz Ptak
© Mayor of Pleszew Town and Municipality
costs
What if the buildings were more diverse in their functions? As Oskar Grąbczewski notes, this also comes with a budget, and developers minimize costs by building simply, quickly and cheaply. After all, thinking with common sense, developing an existing building should be cheaper than building a new one. This, however, should come as no surprise to anyone, since we live in a system where it is more cost-effective to destroy manufactured goods sitting in a warehouse to make room for new goods. Transformed spaces need financing not only at the implementation stage. Equally important is the management and the idea of continuing to operate. Forward thinking is discussed by Jakub Szczęsny, who cites examples of rapidly depopulating cities in need of strategies and ideas to stop the trend. Depopulation is also mentioned by Arkadiusz Ptak, whose another idea for the city and municipality is to reverse this trend in the inner city, so that living in a tenement is an attractive option for residents. Small towns can be convenient because of their compactness and a center accessible within a few kilometers, as long as this is followed by further supportive measures, such as the launch of public transportation and the real elimination of the primacy of the car, as has happened in Pleszew.
new more sexy?
As Jakub Glaz notes, we often succumb to a manipulation in which what is new is presented as smelling fresh, shiny and simply better. Can recycling buildings and spaces be just as attractive? By all means! Confirmation can be found in the Mies van der Rohe Award winners of recent years. The buildings honored are the modernization of the Grand Parc blocks in Bordeaux (proj.: Lacaton & Vassal, Frédéric Druot Architecture, Christophe Hutin Architecture) and deFlat Kleiburg (proj.: NL Architects + XVW architectuur). Oskar Grąbczewski was enthralled by the first of the modernizations, yet, as he recalls, understanding the latter came with time. A block from a problematic neighborhood was salvaged, preserved and transformed. This shows that bad architecture can be turned into good, but also that the perspective of the audience changes with time. Grąbczewski recalls discussions and competitions that in the early 1990s oscillated around the demolition of the Palace of Culture and Science as a symbol of subordination. Today, it is apparent that none of the buildings constructed next door, and designed by stars of world architecture, is better than the PKiN, and the narrative has changed and it is difficult to imagine Warsaw without the Palace. The transformation can now be observed in Kiruna, Sweden, which by 2035 plans to move part of the city with its buildings brick by brick to another location (New Kiruna) due to the collapse of the brown coal mine site - an oasis of greenery will be created on an abandoned part of the city.
Transformations of space in the 21st century still require a lot of work - but in the end it may turn out that the direct and indirect costs will be much lower for society, the community and the environment. So let the transformations, redevelopments, renovations be done wisely and with head.
