DOI: 10.5277/ARCHITECTUS

Download table of contents

Table of contents

Articles

Małgorzata Doroz-Turek, Andrzej Gołembnik, Justyna Kamińska, Kamil Rabiega - Results of the latest interdisciplinary research conducted in the Church of St. James in Sandomierz

doi:10.37190/arc240301

The article is a summary of interdisciplinary research conducted in the 13th-century Dominican Church of St. James in Sandomierz in May 2022. The research included an archaeological survey located at the junction of the presbytery and the nave, followed by an architectural and historical-artistic analysis of the discovered walls and architectural details. The aim of the work was to obtain new materials regarding the beginnings and subsequent transformations of the church of St. James. In addition to traditional research and documentation methods, digital technologies were used, i.e. digital photography, laser scanning and photogrammetry. The stages of archaeological work recorded in this way could be incorporated into the existing digital 3D model of the entire monastery complex. Archaeological methods, as well as preserved source materials (textual and iconographic) were used to date individual structures. Due to later excavations (related to reconstructions and burials), the relationship between the layers recorded in the excavation did not create a clear sequence and cannot be the basis for findings regarding chronology. The initial dating was therefore based on the relationship between the walls and on the dimensions of the discovered bricks. It was established that the brick foundation marked as k. 43/44 may come from the 13th century and constitute a fragment of the unpreserved choir partition of the church - this hypothesis will require verification in the future. Additionally, a previously unknown, possibly medieval wall with a NS course (k. 3) on the line of pillars between the naves was uncovered, as well as a vaulted ceiling of the vestibule of the crypt under the Martyrs’ Chapel. The discovered architectural details include a fragment of a 13th-century ceramic molding, perhaps coming from the choir partition, and stone floor slabs. The discovered brick structures, architectural details and traces of numerous secondary excavations prove that the examined part of the church has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries and was intensively used for burials.

Keywords:

    article

    sandomierz

    church of st. james

    mendicant architecture

    medieval architecture

    brick architecture

    interdisciplinary research

Maciej Motak - The fate of Krakow’s builders and architects of Jewish origin in the face of World War II. Possibilities of applying the micro-historical method in research on architecture and urban planning

doi:10.37190/arc240302

This article is about the fate of a group of architects and builders in Krakow during World War II. After the outbreak of the war and the start of the German occupation in September 1939, they found themselves in a very difficult position. As the persecution intensified, so did the opportunities for their professional activities strongly diminish, although they did not disappear. The article outlines in more detail two individual situations - those of Samuel Mehl and Jakub Stendig - one related to the creation of a building, the other to, among other issues, the loss of a building. The research used methods often applied in the studies in architecture and urbanism: literature analysis, search in archives, field research. The micro-historical method, which is rather rarely used in such research, was also applied. This method, which has been used for nearly 50 years in scientific, mainly historical research, is based on studying and preserving the individual element of the narrative while aiming to generalise the result. In spite of the extremely cruel persecution of the Jewish population in Krakow during World War II, some architects and builders of Jewish origin continued their professional activity under various and difficult conditions. Its forms varied from design work and construction of residential buildings, to care for historical monuments, to construction activity in a concentration camp. Professional activity and specific skills may have contributed to the fact that proportionally more Jewish architects and builders survived the Holocaust than the Jewish community in Krakow as a whole. The consequences of the Holocaust for the architecture and space of Krakow were serious and varied: the loss of an important professional group, the loss of valuable architectural and artistic works, the change of features in newly designed buildings. The legacy of the work of architects and builders of Jewish origin in Krakow is very significant. It has been commemorated in a variety of tangible and intangible forms, although insufficiently in proportion to its scale.

Keywords:

    article

    world war ii

    jews

    micro-history

    architects and builders

    krakow

Justyna Cichosz-Fornalczyk, Adriana Cieślak-Arkuszewska - Forms of sacred buildings inspired by mountain sculpture. References to geological forms in the design of small contemporary mountain chapels

doi:10.37190/arc240303

For centuries, architects have been inspired by nature, mimicking forms or observing phenomena and translating the principles of the natural environment into the structure of a building. The conscious mimicking of nature is mainly based on biological forms, but architects also draw on patterns derived from geomorphic features. Important sources of architectural inspiration among the inanimate elements of nature are mountains as models of beauty, stones and rocks as “indestructible” elements, and rock crystals as symbols of perfection and light. The aim of the study is to attempt to analyse and interpret the building lumps of selected small chapels from the Alpine region in terms of their reference to the motif of mountains or rock crystals and the means of architectural expression used for this purpose. The article discusses the principles of form, colours, materials used, the relationship to the natural landscape and the symbolic meanings of the buildings. It has been shown that the buildings analysed bear the characteristics of organic architecture and reflect the relationship between human spirituality and nature. In them, architecture becomes a means of expression that is accentuated by the spiritual element of art.

Keywords:

    article

    mountain chapels

    geological forms

    rock crystal

    the alps

    sacred architecture

Ewa Węcławowicz-Gyurkovich - New Decorationism in 21st-century architecture. General characteristics and analysis of selected examples

doi:10.37190/arc240304

This paper presents a number of examples of a new trend in recent architecture, called New Decorationism. It has only recently been observed in European projects, since the first decade of the 21st century. Aesthetic concepts in both the visual arts and architecture, are not permanent, they are subject to change. There are few architectural projects within these new directions and trends, with isolated buildings found in various European cities. In this case, it is crucial in architecture that a new approach to shaping the aesthetic atmosphere of architectural form has appeared, one in which the application of ornamental textures of external envelopes - the “skin” of the building, using various materials such as glass, metal, stone and technologically advanced concrete types. This research was based primarily on in situ studies, also literature studies and a multiple-case study. A descriptive analysis of selected examples was performed, enabling the characterisation of a new trend in architecture that shows the decorative outer shells of buildings. The presentation of statements by a number of philosophers also appeared helpful in understanding the actions of the avant-garde. Examples of European projects have been chosen to discuss and illustrate the problem.

Keywords:

    article

    latest architecture

    texture and matter of external walls

Marcin Charciarek - The use of precast concrete façade elements in selected projects of new Polish public buildings. Formal meanings and technology

doi:10.37190/arc240305

The article is a presentation of selected examples of Polish public architecture as an attempt to search for contemporary architectural meanings and their expression in prefabrication concrete technologies. Prefabrication - increasingly visible in the Polish scenery - is not only becoming a construction alternative to monolithic systems, but is also chosen by architects as the ideal technology to implement their aesthetic intentions. An additional goal of the work is to analyse available sources on the topic of prefabrication of concrete façade solutions, in terms of their impact on the aesthetic expression of architectural objects, and to present the selected type of prefabrication through technical and construction details. Contemporary concrete architecture is increasingly subject to prefabrication due to higher technical and quality requirements. The cited patterns of application of modular façade solutions prove that they do not have to limit the architect’s design freedom and can be an alternative to leaving the beaten tracks of monolithic concrete construction.

Keywords:

    article

    concrete

    prefabrication

    polish architecture

Aleksandra Marcinów, Małgorzata Biegańska, Bianka Kowalska, Hubert Baran, Daniil Hardzetski, Halina Kwaśnicka - Building a dataset of Wrocław’s historic tenements. Image annotation for machine learning applications

doi:10.37190/arc240306

In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced new possibilities in the field of architecture. In the realm of compositional analysis and recognition of architectural details, AI can have a significant impact, supporting historical-architectural research, the valorisation of historic buildings, and design in accordance with historical context. However, the successful use of AI in analysing architectural objects requires large datasets to train and test the models. The article aims to demonstrate the creation of a new dataset containing annotated images. The NeoFaçade collection serves as a historical dataset, containing façades of the 19th and 20th century townhouses from Wrocław and, in due course, other cities with similar architectural styles (for example, Szczecin or Berlin). Gathering high-quality photographic material and marking architectural elements accurately, enables to use the dataset for various AI tasks: semantic segmentation, image classification, and generation of pictures of tenement house façades. This way, the NeoFaçade dataset can potentially be applied in architectural practice or historic preservation. The methodology for creating the dataset developed by the authors consists of three stages: preparation of the data acquisition procedure, data processing: creation of a dataset that meets the requirements and a summary of the dataset. All stages are discussed in detail in the paper, including an example annotation of one of the townhouses. In the future, the research team will focus on expanding the collection with new photographs, while also striving to demonstrate NeoFaçade value as a tool supporting innovative research projects and practical applications

Keywords:

    article

    dataset

    façade

    townhouses

    historic architecture

    machine learning

Barbara Świt-Jankowska - Adam Mickiewicz Museum in Śmiełów - towards a contemporary museum concept using digital twin technology

doi:10.37190/arc240307

Modern demands and dynamic technological development, especially in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods, require science to adapt and verify the existing methods. It also includes the fields related to the history of architecture and the cultural heritage protection. The concept of the digital twin - a virtual copy of a historic object which enables a deeper understanding of its structure and the optimization of the protection/preservation and exploitation process, is gaining popularity. The aim of the paper was to analyse the potential of the digital twin in the context of historic museum building, where museum collections are often subject to separate protection principles. The current state of research on digital twins, as well as the challenges associated with creating HBIM documentation and the problems faced by contemporary museums, was presented. The results of research carried out in 2022-2024 on the palace in Śmiełów, a branch of the Adam Mickiewicz Museum were also presented. Traditional technical documentation served as the basis for research, conservation work and the plans of the further expansion of the museum, as well as the creation of a new digital exhibition path. The conclusion highlights the prospects for developing the concept of a “museum in a monument” as an innovative form of presenting cultural heritage. A contemporary museum in a monument should combine tradition with modernity, and the “digital twin” can become a bridge between the past and the present, providing visitors with unique experiences.

Keywords:

    article

    digital twin

    hbim

    heritage protection

    museum in a monument

Monika Włodarczyk - Exploring Łódź’s city centre - from the origins to modern times

doi:10.37190/arc240308

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of changes in the perception and functionality of Łódź’s centre within the context of urban and social transformations. It focuses on identifying key factors influencing the city’s spatial and social evolution, examining how historical and emerging centres affect its structure and residents’ lives. Utilizing a broad methodology based on spatial data, historical analysis, and results from field research and surveys, the author aims to understand the dynamics of changes in Łódź’s urban structure. The conclusions highlight the importance of adaptive urban strategies that consider changing social needs and expectations, indicating the development of multi-functional centres as a response to the complex challenges of the modern city. The study sheds light on spatial restructuring processes, emphasizing the role of social participation and innovative approaches in shaping the future of urban centres.

Keywords:

    article

    łódź

    industrial heritage

    city centre

    revitalization

    urban development

    urban strategies

Bartosz Kaźmierczak - Sky view factor method as an analytical tool in the analysis of compactness of an urban interior

doi:10.37190/arc240309

This article is aimed to present the results of the study on urban canyon compactness. The topic seems to be vital as physiognomic research on urban canyons has so far relied on visual assessment made by an observer intuitively. These types of studies comply with relevant standards which define elements of a visually sensed space and prescribe methods of recording such a sensual experience. Therefore, such studies are classified within descriptive research, and are sometimes charged with such drawbacks as the subjectivity and lack of comparativeness. To attain higher objectivity, the number of respondents is typically increased and results are calculated and presented in the statistical form. This article presents an analytical methods based on a normative approach, the application of which will render measurable and comparable results. The purpose of the studies consisted in testing one of the normative methods, i.e., the sky view factor (SVF) method, in the objective calculation of compactness of an urban interior.

Keywords:

    article

    sky view factor

    analytical tool

    normative approach

    urban compactness

Joanna Jadwiga Białkiewicz - Biomimetics and biomimicry. Their role as a tool and ideology in contemporary architecture

doi:10.37190/arc240310

The aim of the study is to present how biomimetics and biomimicry manifest themselves in the architectural practice on two basic levels: as a tool and ideology. Biomimetics can be perceived as an architectural tool. It takes inspiration from the details of form, structure, and behaviour of living organisms, producing architectural elements of specific functionalities. Biomimicry is a contemporary architecture’s ideology. It means the imitation of biological rules and processes at the ecosystem level. Here, nature provides inspiration at the macro level, the idea of biomimicry is of a synthetic character, based on a holistic view and general laws and principles. The final products are buildings, perceived in a holistic way, and urban complexes. The idea of biomimicry can be implemented either using advanced high-tech solutions (biomimetic tools), or with a low-tech approach, taking inspiration from vernacular architecture or animals’ habitats.

Keywords:

    article

    biomimicry

    biomimetics

    biomimetic tools

    ideological biomimicry

Alina Lipowicz-Budzyńska - Visual interference - artistic possibilities of linear mixed arrangements

doi:10.37190/arc240311

The aim of the author of the article is to investigate the possibility of using the phenomenon of visual interference in architecture. The research is experimental and serves to develop a module consisting of two layers, which will be multiplied and placed on a glass façade. The research can be used to develop an image processing method using interference. In the introduction to the article, various forms of interference in graphics composed of linear elements are discussed. Examples of flat, non-transparent projects in graphics and painting are cited. Then, a group of spatial images was presented in the form of installations or placed on two layers of glass. Research aimed at developing a graphic layout to be placed on a glass façade is presented. The article briefly describes the creation of a module – a graphic element that is used to develop more complex compositions that can be used in a glass façade. This is a step towards creating a compendium of knowledge about this phenomenon and existing solutions. The results of our research can be an inspiration for artists and architects, as well as an incentive for designers and investors to use them in architecture.

Keywords:

    article

    visual interference

    moiré

    glass façade

    façade graphics

Bartłomiej Buława, Michał Jagiełło, Aneta Kozińska-Kasparek, Ignacio Fernandez Torres - Landscape and digital nomads in Spanish rural areas. The case of Valverde de Burguillos

doi:10.37190/arc240312

The article examines the opportunities and challenges of peripheral rural areas with high landscape values in the context of digital nomads, who combine remote work with leisure. The problem addressed concerns the protection and development of such areas under the pressure of digital nomadism on the sample of the Spanish town Valverde de Burguillos. The literature review has shown that the nomadic lifestyle is becoming popular globally. The impact of digital nomads on rural landscapes has not yet been sufficiently investigated in the literature. The method employed was a case study, including an on-site study visit and a students’ idea for the town of Valverde de Burguillos in the form of a simulation. The analysed case study of an idea for Valverde de Burguillos presents a development centre and a digital nomad village. It focuses on integrating digital nomads into the local community and on their impact on the urban structure of the town and the adjacent landscape. On the one hand, it introduces new architecture and infrastructure into the rural landscape, transforming it. On the other hand, it enables conservation, protection, and access to the Water Culture heritage. The research highlights the importance of landscape values in social identity, branding, and sustainable development. Relationships were explored between the need to protect and develop valuable rural landscapes and the emerging tourism and residential trends related to digital nomads. At the same time, attention was given to the increasing prevalence of remote work and its impact on spatial structures, architecture, and landscapes. Emphasis was put on the adaptation and potential impact on local communities and surrounding landscapes, which can be considered a revision of design and housing paradigms.

Keywords:

    article

    rural landscape

    digital nomads

    new housing paradigm

    values of landscape

    cultural heritage and landscape of the region