We encourage you to vote for the Audience Award of the 14th edition of the Maciej Nowicki Award competition. Below is a list of all 24 projects participating in the competition. You can vote only once for one project only between February 11 and March 10 this year. The author of the work that wins the highest number of votes will receive a one-year subscription to "A&B" monthly.
Projects participating in the contest
Revitalization of the Crescenzago neighborhood in Milan
designer: Joanna Machera, Anna Barwińska
{tag_vote:id=1,name="Revitalization of the Crescenzago district in Milan"}.
"The project to revitalize the area of the Crescenzago neighborhood in Milan consisted of creating a unique, timeless space and revitalizing the area and creating a variety of activities to encourage use of the space. A new building with a clear division of functions was created on plot A, as well as a green semi-private space on the roof and a green public courtyard on the first floor. On Plot B, renovation of existing facilities was carried out and new activity areas for residents were created. Plot C was designated as recreation areas conducive to outdoor activities. An important design aspect was the use of the revolutionary Smog Free Towers and Smog Free Bicycles technology to minimize air pollution. The entire area was enriched with numerous green plantings that blend with the architecture to create a new, friendly common space for residents." [excerpt from author's description].
Airscraper
proj.: KXM (Klaudia Golaszewska, Marek Grodzicki)
{tag_vote:id=2,name="Airscraper"}.
"Airscraper is a state-of-the-art skyscraper that would stand in Beijing. The project edifice is 800 meters high and 60 meters in diameter. It could house up to 7,500 people in total. In an era of growing population, such tall buildings will increasingly be built in the world's most densely populated areas. We estimate that one such skyscraper will accommodate as many people as a standard housing development, which would have to occupy 3 square kilometers of land. Airscraper is like a self-contained vertical city. Inside there are to be recreational, educational, commercial and cultural spaces. In addition, the building is designed to purify the air. The skyscraper concept takes advantage of the chimney draft effect. It sucks the air near the surface, and a complex filtration system purifies it. Forced air circulation helps reduce the urban heat island effect." [excerpt from author's description].
MTP Green Fair
proj.: KXM (Klaudia Golaszewska, Marek Grodzicki)
{tag_vote:id=3,name="Green MTP Fair"}.
"The idea is based on dividing the area into two parts: the fair area and the public zone. The overhang on the MTP grounds served as a natural barrier between the two parts. The part that is below the south entrance to Concordia Square will be open for public use. The main idea of the whole concept is to introduce a green river-park connecting the various functions of the MTP zone into a coherent architectural composition. This allowed to functionally unite the whole establishment, creating a green recreational area. Special attention was paid to the composition of the skyline of Poznan. The western wall was designed so that the development gradually increased in height to the culminating moment - Concordia Square - towering over the rest of the city. Developing the work is the design of two sustainable skyscrapers - Concordia Office and Concordia House. Together with the Bałtyk office building, they form the crown of Poznań, exposing the historic Concordia building." [excerpt from author's description].
Transformation of large-panel estates on the basis of Osiedle Piastowskie
designed by: Michal Hondo
promoter: Dr. Adam Siniecki
(master's thesis; Department of Architecture, Poznan University of Technology).
{tag_vote:id=4,name="Transformation of large-panel settlements on the basis of Osiedle Piastowskie"}.
"Large-panel blocks of flats largely contribute to the current landscape of Polish cities. However, the technical condition is not the only problem of "block housing". One can see new trends in society, to which architecture must adapt. Homogeneous urbanism, all-pervading grayness and monotony are not and have never been a dream environment for living, but only now we have the means and opportunities to change. Can the neighborhoods of the last century evolve with society and keep up with the changes, thus making centrally located areas in cities more welcoming and open to people? In an era of growing awareness of the need for revitalization and attention to the sustainable management of raw materials, it also raises the question of whether the demolition of the great slab is the only alternative? In my work I would like to attempt to reconcile the "old with the new" and create a modern hybrid. A city that adapts what already exists and adds new values" [excerpt from author's description].
The new life of a modernist city - an urban planning concept
proj.: Marek Kowal
promoter: Dr. Anna Sikora
(graduate engineering thesis; Faculty of Architecture, Rzeszow University of Technology)
{tag_vote:id=5,name="New life of a modernist city - urban planning concept"}.
"The location of the project is the strict center of the modernist city - Stalowa Wola. The design work focuses on activities in the place of the bus station, the place of bus departures (these are two separate squares) and the areas in their immediate vicinity. The canvass of the project presentation is a drawing - a concept of land development of the above locations. Pre-design analyses and diagrams explaining the design measures taken are also an important element. Extremely important for the project are detailed solved volumes and elevations of all objects located in the study area. This allows for a realistic presentation of the urban idea, so you can get a feel for its architectural perspective. The presentation also takes into account the human scale - all visualizations are accompanied by diagrams defining the location in the context of the built space. An additional element of the presentation is the animation, which presents the adopted solutions in a dynamic way." [excerpt from author's description].
Church for the local community - Nowe Żerniki, Wrocław
proj.: ADAMICZKA.BROMA (Jerzy Adamiczka, Bartosz Adamiczka, Tomasz Broma)
{tag_vote:id=6,name="Church for the local community - Nowe Żerniki, Wroclaw"}.
"The project aims to create community relations. The building grows out of the ground - its walls and floor are made with homogeneous compacted earth technology. Thanks to its simplicity, it provides an opportunity to directly involve the residents of the estate in the construction work in progress. While erecting the building, it will be possible to integrate and create a local community. The rawness of the material, its common origin and the simplicity of its construction are intended to emphasize the modesty of the church and relate to the philosophy of the poor church. The design was guided by the idea of a modest and simple building - the building emerges from the greenery without overwhelming the park or intimate buildings. The church was designed on a central plan, as successive narrowing rings of different character - from the profane sphere, to the opening in the central nave - the sacredzone. The key element is a wild sacred garden, which can be seen as an observatory of nature - it is an allegory of the work of creation, which is revealed in nature." [excerpt from author's description].
Kindergarten with nursery - Jemielnica
proj.: ADAMICZKA.BROMA (Jerzy Adamiczka, Bartosz Adamiczka, Tomasz Broma, Damian Kuna)
{tag_vote:id=7,name="Kindergarten with crèche - Jemielnica"}.
"The design was preceded by a week-long author workshop in the nursery. They resulted in children's concepts of a dream kindergarten, which, together with observations and conversations, served as guidelines for the design. A recurring aspect was the children's dream of an invisible kindergarten, where they would not be seen. The building was therefore designed as a safe enclave hidden in the surrounding greenery with a strongly introverted character - a separate space creating its own world. The space was organized around courtyards. The element composing and organizing the space and functioning of the kindergarten are, spread around the courtyards, separate patios - outdoor rooms, complementing the kindergarten rooms. Each classroom opens onto the main courtyard through its own patio. The building is related to the cultural context - its walls and floors are made of local, historically used materials based on limestone (neighborhood of the mine)." [excerpt from author's description].
Beehive design for urban apiary
proj.: ADAMICZKA.BROMA (Jerzy Adamiczka, Bartosz Adamiczka, Tomasz Broma, Maria Czarnecka)
{tag_vote:id=8,name="Hive project for urban apiary"}.
"The concept of the hive was based on the phenomenon of the bees' dance, by means of which the insects transmit to the other individuals in the hive a message with the following content: At a distance l from the hive, in the direction δ relative to the position of the sun, there is a target c with yield/quality q and odor z. Information regarding the bees' dance was coded in the design and, using appropriate graphics, presented on the walls of the hive. The core of the hive was designed in a traditional form, drawing on patterns developed in beekeeping. However, the outer layer was made of fabric, impregnated in the old way, using beeswax. This protects the hive from the weather, and also makes it possible to maintain an appropriate microclimate inside. In the search for a material, a series of experiments were conducted using natural (linen and cotton) and recycled fabrics. Beeswax was used for impregnation, and in subsequent iterations mixtures with additives that change the properties of the wax were used." [excerpt from author's description].
Center for Local Activity in Otwock
proj.: Daria Rutkowska
{tag_vote:id=9,name="Center for Local Activity in Otwock"}.
"The subject of the study is the Local Activity Center in Otwock. The plot is located near the road leading towards Warsaw. In addition, it is an area located on the Świder River. The Center for Local Activity is a facility that provides an opportunity to organize free time for different age groups. Important in the assumptions of the project was the interesting development of the area around the building, so as to create conditions that encourage people to spend their free time in the area, while interfering as little as possible with the existing environment. Thus, on the plot, in addition to the building, which adapts to the relief of the terrain, were created viewing terraces and a stage. Whose backdrop is the natural landscape along with the Świder River. One of the most important assumptions, however, is the creation of a brine graduation tower, which was designed on an independent structure, but forms a coherent whole with the building." [excerpt from the author's description].
Urban Farm,
A food district in the context of global problems, challenges and trends
proj.: Piotr Andrzejewski
{tag_vote:id=10,name="Urban Farm"}.
"The Urban Farm is a manifesto in keeping with the idea of re-naturecity with a special focus on water in the design. This is because for centuries cities have created a barrier between man and water. One of the main ideas is to try to bring water back to the city and use it as the basis of the urban and architectural concept. The challenge set was to bring agriculture closer to the city to allow residents to observe, participate and engage in food production. The site in question is located in central London, which determines the need to orient the design solution towards economic viability, enabling the use of technology and innovative approaches to the functionality of this type of facility. A site has been created that allows people to learn how to grow and produce food. The creation of home food supply systems and ultimately the purchase of the necessary tools and products to grow food at home is brought closer." [excerpt from author's description].
Intercultural Integration Park with Refugee Settlement
designed by: Krzysztof Kobiela
promoter: Tomasz Wagner, Ph.D.
(Master's thesis; Faculty of Architecture, Silesian University of Technology)
{tag_vote:id=11,name="Intercultural Integration Park with Refugee Settlement"}.
"The project aims to create a temporary center to integrate migrants with the local population. The integration site will help newcomers find their way in the new society, provide them with security and enable them to enter the labor market. Locals will also benefit, as they will be able to taste traditional dishes prepared by the migrants staying there, or listen to folk music characteristic of their countries. The interaction of different cultures will lead to increased social awareness and tolerance levels. A temporary refugee settlement will also operate in the neighborhood. The houses they will live in will be built from ready-made printed segments. The finished pieces, will be printed from bioplastic, derived from, among other things, urban waste. After 3 years, thanks to the integration program, the refugees will already be able to start functioning normally in society, and their houses will be melted down into homes for more refugees." [excerpt from author's description].
The ReCity Project.
Redefining the concept of "urban quality of life" in a post-industrial city on the example of Łódź
proj.: Kinga Butlewska
{tag_vote:id=12,name="Project ReCity"}.
"The ReCity Project is an attempt to find a solution to the contemporary problems of cities, especially post-industrial cities, which are in the greatest economic and social crisis. For the purposes of the project, a set of postulates has been formulated based on today's knowledge, reports and predictions about the future of our existence. They are intended to be an opportunity to create a model of the city as a friendly environment for living, working and resting, and with an eye to the well-being of the ecosystem. The first part of the project is an experiment in the application on a "macro" scale of the postulates of ReCity in a selected post-industrial city - Lodz on the basis of the execution of analyses and concepts. The second part of the project concerns the "micro" scale. The area of detailed study is a specific fragment of Lodz (55 hectares). The project is an attempt to answer the question of what a self-sufficient settlement, guaranteeing a high urban quality of life and at the same time using modern technology, would look like and how it would work." [excerpt from author's description].
Project for adaptation of the Relax cinema to the function of a theater.
The influence of architecture on the viewer
designed by: Monika Anna Frydryszak
promoter: prof. dr hab. Ewa Kuryłowicz
(Master's thesis; Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Warsaw University of Technology).
{tag_vote:id=13,name="Project for adaptation of Relax cinema to function as a theater"}.
"The work is to prepare a project for the adaptation of the former Relax cinema building to the function of a theater and the transformation of its surroundings so that this part of the city becomes a vibrant "urban living room" in accordance with its original purpose. The project involves closing off the car passage along Zlota Street to Defilad Square and giving the reclaimed space to pedestrians. An open-air off-road amphitheater has been designed in light of the Relax cinema building, based on the underpass, and connected to the interior of the building at level -1. The newly created side elevations and the elevation facing Zlota Street were designed in PTFE-coated fiberglass - a material that appears solid by day, but at night, when the lights in thethe theater's lobby, reveals its transparent properties - silhouettes of people rushing to a performance or strolling through the foyer are visible on the facade as if in a shadow theater, with the intention of realizing the idea of a living theater." [excerpt from author's description]
Odeon in Biała Podlaska,
i.e., a project for the construction of a canopy and the reconstruction and renovation of the amphitheater in the castle-parkcomplex
proj.: BP Projekt Kazimierz Butelski (Kazimierz Butelski, Monika Butelska, Magdalena Zielińska, Stanislaw Butelski)
{tag_vote:id=14,name="Odeon in Biała Podlaska"}.
"Dialogue with history for the search of new values using contemporary architectural language is the idea behind the Odeon project. The Radziwill park-palacecomplex with earthen fortifications from the 17th century is located in the center of the city of Biala Podlaska, Odeon fills its western spur. The palace has not been preserved to this day. The Odeon will help extend the cultural season in Biala Podlaska. It is the largest building with such a function in the city and the surrounding area. The height of the interior space is 9.5 meters, and the maximum span of the structure is 52 meters. The conservation principals of protecting the fortification's gabaritecture specified in the original design of the amphitheater have remained unchanged. The concept of the tendon-membranecanopy for the protection of the gabarite included: construction of a steel openwork perimeter structure, construction of a rope structure, construction of a membrane and compression of the whole. The form was created using parametric design. 1,000 spectators, canopy of 1,789 m², PVC membrane, cable length of 1,743.8 m." [excerpt from author's description].
Design of the SuperPszok and improvements to the system of collection and processing of household waste in Gdańsk
proj.: Michal Jablonowski
{tag_vote:id=15,name="SuperPszoka Project"}.
"Every object - furniture, roads, buildings - if in use, over time requires repair, modernization or replacement. This process is noticeable both on a micro (apartments) and macro (cities) scale. What happens to matter that (theoretically) is not suitable for further use? How is it managed? Can it be reused? What are the implications for cities? The SuperPszok project and improvements to the household waste collection and processing system answer these questions. It is expected to contribute to a more rational use of primary raw materials and increase the use of recyclables. At the same time, it leads to an improvement in the quality of urban spaces through the arrangement of waste collection infrastructure. It is also a model example of an architectural design for the Selective Municipal Waste Collection Points (PSZOK) currently under construction in Poland, which are to function as local recycling centers." [excerpt from author's description].
Warsaw Branch
proj.: Agnieszka Dąbek
(the project was created within the framework of the 2018 "Practice" Scholarship Program conducted by the Stefan Kuryłowicz Foundation)
{tag_vote:id=16,name="Warsaw Branch"}.
"According to the demographic forecast developed by the Central Statistical Office, in 2050 there will be two and a half grandmothers and grandfathers per grandchild. How will medical care and social assistance for the elderly be organized under such conditions? Ward Warsaw is a senior-friendly city based on the concept of elderly care postulating aging in place. This concept moves away from institutional care to small apartments integrated into the urban fabric, supported by new technologies and a flexible care system. In Warsaw Ward, the infrastructure and urban development is expanded to include new medical functions, is sensitive to the needs and adapted to the physical fitness of the elderly while maintaining its urban form, texture and color." [excerpt from author's description].
Pocket Park - Green Lecture Hall
proj.: KRAJOBRAZY FOUNDATION (Wojciech Januszczyk, Piotr Szkołut, Agnieszka Kiełtyka, Leonid Kim, Beata Pydo, Krzysztof Jaraszkiewicz)
{tag_vote:id=17,name="Pocket Park - Green Lecture Hall"}.
"The pocket park "Green Lecture Hall" is located in Lublin, at the intersection of Furmańska Street and Cyrulicza Street. The area is located in the Lublin Model Revitalization Area. The idea of building the park came from landscape architect Wojciech Januszczyk. Among the residents of the Old Town district there was a perceived lack of green areas in the surrounding buildings, and the only public square available in the area was a wild parking lot. This was the rationale for creating a pocket park in this zone - a multifunctional and architecturally coherent space. The project was implemented as a community initiative, with funds from the Green Budget of the City of Lublin. During the revitalization process, the wild parking lot was "dismantled" by children who took part in activities organized by the Landscapes Foundation on the site of the future Green Lecture Hall (ZSW)." [excerpt from author's description].
Estate inscribed in the landscape as an attempt to create a civil and pro-ecological society in Poland
proj.: Łukasz Dmowski
supervised by: dr hab. Krystyna Solarek
(Master's thesis; Faculty of Architecture, Warsaw University of Technology)
{tag_vote:id=18,name="Estate inscribed in the landscape"}.
"The pro-environmental and pro-social estate in Reguly meets all the requirements of the latest knowledge on biological topics, realizing them in space. The well-thought-out location shows how land around the sprawling city of Warsaw can be beneficially managed. Urban planning takes human beings into account, promotes their health, urges them to meet others and live in community. Original spatial solutions, well-chosen scale, make life here pleasant. The estate has an experimental character - different layouts of plots and houses in relation to the world sides and streets are specially accentuated, in order to demonstrate that it is possible to introduce pro-ecological and pro-social solutions in any layout, even the least favorable one. Smaller plots and smaller houses do not cause nuisance, due to good layout and spatial connections. The estate can be a stepping stone to building a healthier community living in close proximity in Poland." [excerpt from author's description].
Innovation center - Racibórz - Długosz Square
proj.: TOPROJEKT (Marek Wawrzyniak, Karol Wawrzyniak, Katarzyna Mazurek, Agata Skiba, Pushkraj Tambdey, Monika Wojaczek)
{tag_vote:id=19,name="Innovation Center - Racibórz - Plac Długosz"}.
"Racibórz, during World War II, was completely destroyed. The last unhealed breach is Długosz Square. For years, the square has served as a municipal parking lot. The presented concept returns to the historic urban layout. The projections of the main blocks form the outlines of the four former quarters. The street on the north-south axis determines the view axis closed by the prison tower and the block of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The street on the north-south axis marks the viewing axis enclosed by the prison tower and the body of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church. St. Marceli Square and the New Market have been reconstructed. On the level of the top floor, classrooms for the school were designed. On the first floor, service and commercial spaces are planned. The middle floors will be used by both the school's students and the Racibórz community. Sports halls, an auditorium and a dozen apartments have been located there. A public garden will be built on the roofs. Clinker bricks have been used for the facade. The plane of the new St. Marceli Square has been amphitheatrically raised, an interior has been created, intended for meetings and cultural events." [excerpt from author's description].
Parametric urban flooring
- Revitalization of Powstańców Śląskich and Jana II Sobieskiego streets in Rybnik
proj.: TOPROJEKT (Marek Wawrzyniak, Joanna Wawrzyniak, Karol Wawrzyniak, Katarzyna Mazurek, Marek Lis, Weronika Podufalska, DMK Inżynieria Sebastian Adamski)
{tag_vote:id=20,name="Parametric urban flooring"}.
"The concept for the revitalization of Powstańców Śląskich Street, Sobieski Street and Jana Pawła II Square is an attempt to counter the outflow of consumers from the area once considered the strict center of Rybnik. The new traffic layout has been subordinated to the principle preferring pedestrian, bicycle and public transport in the downtown area, with the admission of limited individual car transport and the elimination of transit traffic. The layout organizes traffic in the northwesternpart of the downtown and enables the creation of an attractive pedestrian route. The problem of spatial planning of the floor can be reduced, thanks to the parameterization of the floor, to the issue of inscribing the largest rectangle into a quadrangle. This problem is atypical for the architect's workshop, but it translates directly into the materiality of the project." [excerpt from author's description].
Meeting Architecture.
Multifunctional space for neighborhood integration complementing the functional program of a contemporary developer housing estate
designer: Paulina Wojnar
supervisor: Dr. Cezary Szpytma
(engineering diploma thesis; Faculty of Architecture, Rzeszów University of Technology).
{tag_vote:id=21,name="Meeting Architecture"}.
"The project will make it possible to establish and deepen social ties and offset the negative effects of rapid civilization development. Residential estates that have been built in recent years, often lacking in their design well-designed spaces between buildings, put up a barrier to neighborhood communication. The resulting facility is intended to be an excuse for single people to leave their apartments and engage in social life. The project is an intervention in the existing urban fabric, complementing the Zawiszy neighborhood with missing recreational, cultural and resting functions. The positive intervention in the existing area by adding greenery in the form of herbs and flower meadows has an impact on the aesthetics of the space and the physical and mental health of people. Elevating pedestrian traffic and the functioning of the neighborhood above the street makes it possible to improve the quality of the space without changing the urban layout and eliminating car traffic." [excerpt from author's description].
The search for high-quality social residential architecture using evolutionary algorithms
designed by: Igor Jansen
supervised by: Dr. Łukasz Piątek
(Master's thesis; Faculty of Architecture ,Warsaw Universityof Technology )
{tag_vote:id=22,name="Searching for high quality social residential architecture"}.
"Socio-economicchanges are contributing to the worsening problem of housing availability. Lack of housing or poor housing conditions were cited as one of the most important problems for 40% of Polish families in 2018. One of the answers to the problem of housing availability is social housing, which attempts to reconcile high quality and low costs of building construction and operation. Simultaneous achievement of these seemingly opposing goals was made possible by a digital tool I created - an evolutionary algorithm that assists in the search for the most rational body and location of a building on a plot by striving to obtain a building of the highest possible quality while maximizing the possibilities of a building plot within the framework of the current technical conditions, building regulations and provisions of the Local Development Plan. The operation of the algorithm is proved by the conceptual design of a social residential building in Warsaw realized with its help." [excerpt from the author's description].
Local Activity Center on Smutna Street
in Szczecin
designer: Natalia Tomaszewska
supervisor: Leszek Świątek, PhD
(Department of Construction and Architecture, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin).
{tag_vote:id=23,name="Local Activity Center in Szczecin"}.
"The subject of the study is the design of the architectural and urbanplanning concept of the Local Activity Center at Smutna Street in Szczecin. The project focuses on the development of a vision of an attractive, generally accessible public space and should respond to the needs of communities living in nearby neighborhoods. The form of the building blends into the urban context of the development, but its contemporary architectural expression stands out and contrasts with the calm, natural surroundings, catching the attention of the viewer and becoming a recognizable and memorable element. The goal was to design a space that ensures the satisfaction of social needs, is easily accessible, proposes interesting and stimulating activities, as well as allows recreation, provides safety and satisfies aesthetic needs." [excerpt from author's description].
Urban planning andarchitectural concept for the redevelopment of three tenement houses for residential purposes in Katowice on Mariacka Street
proj.: DNA Architekci (Dominika Skałuba, Monika Głowacka)
{tag_vote:id=24,name="Redevelopment of three tenement houses for residential purposes in Katowice"}.
"TOMORROW, orTOMORROW" says the inscription on the facade of one of the buildings included in the study. Despite the successful revitalization of Mariacka Street, there are still vacant buildings along the street, as if they were waiting for their turn, which will come only tomorrow. The project is a response to an issue that all architects in the world are facing nowadays, namely the reproduction of historic architecture. However, isn't the reproduction a step backwards and doesn't it contradict the slogan of TOMORROW ? For we live in modern times, and therefore we should design contemporary architecture or the architecture of the future, i.e. the ARCHITECTURE of TOMORROW. Therefore, the main element of our project is to respond to the expectations of returning to the historical state in a modern way, by creating an interactive screen, placed in front of the front elevation, one of the options of which will be to display the Art Nouveau façade." [excerpt from author's description].
Voting closed on March 10, 2020. See the current summary below:
{tag_vote_results:status="developed"}.
