Issue 2(78)/2024

DOI: 10.5277/ARCHITECTUS

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Table of contents

Articles

s. Anna Tejszerska USJK - Julian Lisiecki (1881–1945) – architect and restorer

doi:10.37190/arc240201

The article presents the entire creative activity of Julian Lisiecki, a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Karlsruhe, committed to the protection and restoration of national heritage, a member of the Towarzystwo Opieki nad Zabytkami Przeszłości, and an architect involved in the design of state construction investments of the Second Polish Republic. The text is based on archival material, the architect’s diaries made available to the author, and a careful study of professional journals from the period of Julian Lisiecki’s professional activity. Due to the scope of the text, emphasis was placed on presenting all aspects of the architect’s activity – from design and conservation projects, through journalistic activity, to involvement in professional associations, participation in competitions and service in the Ministry of Public Works and Military Affairs, omitting a detailed analysis of individual works.

Keywords:

    julian lisiecki

    towarzystwo opieki nad zabytkami przeszłości

    second polish republic

    eastern borderlands

Hanna Grzeszczuk-Brendel - Integration of greenery and architecture: urban reform in Poznań at the turn of the 20th century

doi:10.37190/arc240202

Various green reforms predicated on the improvement of hygiene and aesthetics of the city were implemented in Poznań at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to large boulevards and parks, great importance was attached to greenery near the residential buildings. Greenery was also an integral part of prominent spaces, harmonizing with their ideology. The aim of the article is to draw attention to these somewhat forgotten innovative proposals and to indicate their inspiring potential for modern times, especially in the for-profit conditions of real estate development and ecological challenges. The examples discussed on the basis of in situ research and archival research show that during the 19th century, the need for everyday contact with greenery increased, and urban nature became more and more accessible to residents.

Keywords:

    urban greenery

    democratization and internalization of greenery

    front gardens

    green spaces

    prominent areas

Wojciech Niebrzydowski, Agnieszka Duniewicz - Haptics and the ideas of brutalist architecture

doi:10.37190/arc240203

The subject of the research presented in the article is haptics in brutalist architecture. The authors used the concept of extended haptics, including tactile and non-tactile experiences. The research aimed to identify the elements of the haptic aesthetics of brutalism. The authors used a heuristic method. The research material was initially analysed according to the following criteria: properties, spatial relations, material features, surface finish, and embodied experiences. The full research procedure included two stages – the first concerned the theoretical creative assumptions and the second covered the design results. This article describes the research process and the results of the first phase, for which the following observation criteria were used: negation, inspirations, experiments, and ideas. The result of the analyses is a characterization of the pro-haptic ideas of brutalism. The authors distinguished features based on tactile aspects but also on the cooperation of touch with other senses.

Keywords:

    brutalist architecture

    haptics

    touch in architecture

    multi-sensory design

Jacek Kuśmierski, Katarzyna Hodor - Historical orangeries and greenhouses in Poland: typology and preservation

doi:10.37190/arc240204

Orangeries and greenhouses were among the most ephemeral buildings erected in Polish gardens. The evolution of technology, the lack of proper maintenance, fires and wars meant that they were subject to constant remodelling or suffered damage. Although they have been an integral part of most garden layouts, providing suitable conditions for the storage and cultivation of exotic plants, to date they have not become the subject of any major academic study. The aim of this paper is to present the results of the first cross-sectional study of historical orangeries and greenhouses in Poland. The research and analysis, carried out in the years 2021–2022, made it possible to identify 165 surviving buildings, for which starting data and a classification by type, material, form, time of construction and architectural style were prepared. Each orangery and greenhouse was subject to an assessment of its degree of preservation using a four-point scale that considered the authenticity and integrity of the historical substance, current use and age. The results of the study can serve as a starting point for identifying conservation challenges in the preservation of historical orangeries and greenhouses and formulating recommendations and standards to better protect these buildings.

Keywords:

    poland

    preservation

    greenhouse

    orangery

    historical garden

Kamila Boguszewska - ‘Green axis of the city of Lublin’. Parks along the Bystrzyca River over 100 years (1919–2019). Plans versus realisations

doi:10.37190/arc240205

The system of green areas in Lublin is associated with river valleys. The Bystrzyca Valley is the main compositional and natural axis of the complex, therefore its development was one of the priority planning activities both in the interwar period and after the war. The aim of the article was to analyse local plans and provisions for parks designed in the Bystrzyca Valley in the 20th and 21st centuries. The issue was identified on the basis of literature and archival research, and after conducting a comparative analysis of the studied parks and the current state of land use, the evolution of the assumptions adopted in the interwar period was presented. A detailed analysis covered the designs of three riverside parks, which were to constitute a “green axis” within the city’s administrative borders in the immediate vicinity of downtown Lublin. The work carried out allows the conclusion that the authorities of interwar Lublin, whose area in 1916 was seven times smaller than today and amounted to 26.9 km2, treated the development of river valleys as an important reservoir of green areas. A similar vision was close to the planners of the post-war period. Currently, with the significant expansion of the city, maintaining the recreational function of green areas in river valleys and protecting them from development is crucial from the point of view of the health and quality of life of residents.

Keywords:

    lublin

    park

    bystrzyca river

    spatial planning

    city environmental system

Katarzyna Drobek - Historical ruin of a medieval castle – proposal of methodology for comprehensive monument analysis

doi:10.37190/arc240206

The development of civilisation and the changing needs of users have meant that most historic buildings have lost their original function and have begun to deteriorate as a result of lack of use. For this reason, structures preserved in the form of ruins require a comprehensive approach to solving their conservation, technical and architectural problems. The article presents the author’s method of analysing a ruined building, which takes into account a number of decision-making factors that form the basis for evaluating the structure and determining its further treatment. The proposed analysis is presented from the perspective of a conservationist and is intended to be a comprehensive compilation of knowledge about the monument. The author emphasises the significance of castle ruins as an important group of monuments that can provide a wealth of information about the history and culture of a site. However, there is currently no standard for analysing and collecting data that is crucial for the preservation of the site. The creation of such a document is therefore an extremely important issue.

Keywords:

    historic ruin

    castle

    cultural heritage

    castle

    analysis

    survey

Dominika Strzałka-Rogal - Historical windows and their impact on the energy balance of the building

doi:10.37190/arc240207

With the increasing emphasis on making existing buildings energy efficient, window replacement in historic buildings has become an important and controversial topic. In the presented work, contemporary trends of European and global scope regarding the replacement of historic woodwork with new woodwork are presented. Based on an analysis of the literature on the subject, the issues of maintenance, repair and thermal modernization of old windows are discussed to try to determine how and to what extent the replacement not only adversely affects the aesthetics of the building, but also the economic aspect and the final energy balance of the building. The purpose of the article is to show the historic window as an architectural detail that is worth preserving at all costs during the renovation of the building, upgrading it to meet modern energy requirements. Attention is also given to the issue of sustainability and respect for the architectural heritage of the building’s surroundings.

Keywords:

    historic windows

    renovation

    sustainability

    energy balance

Marcin Gierbienis, Magdalena Teresa Kozień-Woźniak - Multi-use of small performance halls - case studies of modern cultural facilities in Poland

doi:10.37190/arc240208

Contemporary architecture is expected to meet not only functional goals and high aesthetic quality, but also to take into account changing social needs, which is in line with the trend towards sustainable building. It is therefore important to consider the idea of multifunctionality when implementing new developments, especially in small towns. The subject of this paper is the analysis of three buildings in Wieliczka, Dąbrowa and Pszczyna, in which the aspect of multifunctionality was considered differently. At the same time, the discussed examples will benefit researchers, investors and designers alike, as they present specific architectural aesthetic and technological solutions related to the realization of small auditoriums – a subject that is rarely dealt with in scientific publications. The main aim of this paper was to draw attention to the need for an individual approach to the design process and a multi-criteria search for optimal design solutions for the hall, moving away from standardization. Finally, the realization of small multifunctional performance space fits in with the idea of sustainable development, which is based on combining the needs of the present generation with the ability to meet the needs of future generations.

Keywords:

    performance hall

    sustainability

    multi-functional buildings

    multi-purpose building

Tomasz Bradecki, Monika Strzelecka-Seredyńska, Anna Agata Kantarek, Barbara Uherek-Bradecka - Selected issues in contemporary housing design for seniors - Poland in the European context

doi:10.37190/arc240209

Concern for the residential environment for the elderly is increasingly evident in theory in numerous academic studies and in practice reflected in contemporary realisations. Residential centers for seniors are becoming increasingly popular, and their form and function are becoming more complex and dedicated to specific needs. The authors presented the results of a study of a dozen of different case studies of residential and commercial complexes with a healthcare function for the elderly realised after 2005. The authors hypothesise that contemporary realised complexes for seniors are characterised by a varied morphology, i.e., in some cases they replicate the structure of the urban fabric, while in others they clearly break away from it and create individualised forms. The qualitative assessment considers the advantages and disadvantages associated with the morphology of the complexes. The authors also presented their individual design as an experiment of implementing current trends in an established location (research by design). The presented research shows that both the form and function of housing for seniors evolve depending on the needs. Functional programs and the facilities themselves are usually quite extensive and result in complex functional-spatial systems that fill most of the plots on which they were designed. Conclusions from the research can be valuable in studying other senior centres, especially when making location decisions for similar functions.

Keywords:

    housing for elderly

    housing estates for seniors

    senior care

Michał Stangel - Adapting the compact city model in planning new areas of medium-sized cities. From competition concepts to local development plans, on the examples of Tczew and Stargard

doi:10.37190/arc240210

The article presents the possibilities of concretizing the idea of the compact city for new urban development areas in medium-sized cities in Poland, on the basis of author’s experience with winning competition concepts and local development plans developed on their basis. The presented examples are: New Urban Centre in Tczew, on a post-military site, and residential areas in Stargard. The work presents a reflective examination of one’s own design and planning practice. The methodology used is research by design – linking design and research processes in order to obtain new knowledge about a given space. The underlying methodological model assumes a cycle of analysis, design and synthesis. The starting point was an analysis of conditions on the basis of background materials, maps and field observations, which made it possible to specify the key elements for shaping the new structure. Analyses made it possible to concretize design assumptions and develop concepts; the synthesis and verification of which was the development of local plans, in accordance with the possibilities available under the planning technique. The analysis indicates that the compact city model, key in context of sustainable development, nevertheless requires an individual approach when adapting to local conditions. The presented initiatives from medium-sized cities in Poland offer a number of practical tips, including: the use of competitions to determine the future development vision and the verification of competition assumptions within a wide range of conditions. Planning provisions should take into account the diversity of public spaces, securing green spaces, and promoting sustainable mobility. In the context of recent amendments to the Polish Law on Spatial Planning (2023), although there is no formal strengthening of urban design in the planning process, there is a growing popularity of the idea of the compact city. Therefore, there is a need to improve methods of shaping urban structure, especially using pre-design studies and during design. The findings presented here can contribute to improving planning practices and effectively implementing the idea of the compact city in locations in medium-sized cities

Keywords:

    compact city

    sustainable city

    urban design – architectural competition

    urban design concept

    local planning

    sdg11

Anna Wojtas-Harań - Architectural drawing as a sign of the times. An architect’s workshop in the 19th and 20th centuries - retrospection

doi:10.37190/arc240211

The topic of the research is drawing used in architect’s work. The author’s aim was to draw attention to how important it is to be able to adopt the appropriate canon of architectural drawing to obtain a favourable message and to demonstrate that there should be freedom in the selection of graphics. The author concentrated on the presentation and analysis of architectural designs using various drawing conventions. The designs come from the 19th and 20th centuries – a period when the canons of the content and appearance of architectural studies were already in force. It was also a time when architectural drawing was a common practice, done traditionally by means of hand-drawn lines on paper. The review concerns projects implemented in Europe. The analysis of architectural studies shows that architectural drawing, in the professional practice of an architect, is an integral part, including creative invention. The drawing convention adopted by the architect often results from the subject of the project, the context of the location, the style of the era, and the personality of the author. The above dependence leads to the conclusion that the right to choose the drawing technique should remain with the artist, while maintaining the principles of technical knowledge and developed standards of drawing readability.

Keywords:

    building design

    architectural drawing

    architectural drawing

Agata Bonisławska, Radosław Balcerzak, Mirosław Orzechowski - Architectural heritage: log houses of the Warmia Region. A report from research workshops

doi:10.37190/arc240212

The report concerns a research workshop attended by students of the Faculty of Architecture at Warsaw University of Technology. The workshop took place on 10–23 July 2023. During the workshop, among others, an architectural inventory of three Warmian log houses dating from the 2nd half of 19th century was made, ethnographic interviews with the inhabitants of analyzed houses were performed. The performed research aimed at documenting the existing but still disappearing heritage of log houses in Warmia, and at recognition of the structure of buildings and history of inhabiting them since they had been built. Threads of Warmian social identity were investigated – whether it was present or missing. The workshop resulted in a material that will be useful in further research. The graphical documentations of the houses were delivered to the house owners. The original drawings are archived at the Faculty of Architecture of Warsaw University of Technology. The overall outcome of that event is also a valuable experience for the participants and the inhabitants. All those actions aim to enrich the awareness of the log houses heritage in the region, especially among local communities, and to recognize relations of identities of researched houses with the cultural landscape of a land – here in Warmia as an example.

Keywords:

    heritage

    wooden architecture

    log structure

    warmia

    architectural inventory

    ethnographic interview