WRA IX
The conference “Water City — Water as an Asset” addresses the increasing importance of rainwater as a valuable resource in cities in the face of heavy rainfall and drought. Flooding and prolonged dry periods are increasingly problematic in European cities. In Poland, frequent rainfall causes millions of dollars in damage, while aridity puts a strain on green spaces and residents’ health.
Historically, rivers were considered a blessing, and cities were planned with water in mind. In Germany, “water-sensitive urban development” incorporates efficient water resource management into planning to make cities more resilient to climate change. The conference will discuss measures such as rainwater storage via green roofs, reducing sealed surfaces and restoring watercourses. The objective is to raise awareness among city officials and residents to adopt a water-sensitive mindset.
Location: SARP ul. Foksal 2 Warszawa
Date: 26.10.2018
WRA VIII
The conference is dedicated to the topic of urban development from different perspectives. The aspects of master plans, design guidelines and standards in urban planning will be discussed, including the revitalization of a former military area for a new residential district in Ulm by architect Joerg Th. Coqui. The collaboration between cities and private investors known as “URBAN AGREEMENTS” will be highlighted, including the tallest “green” residential high-rise, Donau Flats in Vienna, and investor commitments, presented by Jasmin Soravia, CEO of SoReal GmbH. Also discussed will be investments in urban projects and the role of architectural competitions in designing optimal buildings, with examples including a German architectural competition and the open call competition for Rynek Łazarski in Poznań, presented by architect Peter Achatzi and initiator architect Dawid Strebicki.
Date: 20.11.2017
Venue: Zamoyski Palace — Association of Polish Architects (SARP), Foksal Street 2 in Warsaw.
Number of participants: 200
WRA VII
Following the adoption of a new urban redevelopment law in Poland in winter 2015, future projects are expected to reach a new dimension. Previous urban redevelopment projects in Poland often had to do only with redevelopment and did not always achieve the hoped-for revitalization of the city districts. Lodz, Bytom and Walbrzych were selected as model project cities. The conference discussed the first experiences of these projects and compared them with German urban redevelopment concepts and already realized projects in order to analyze the different starting situations and processes. The goals of the meeting included defining concepts and processes, emphasizing interdisciplinarity, stimulating participation of different stakeholders and sharing knowledge about problems and risks of urban redevelopment projects. Presentations were given by: Manfred Kühne (Head of Department Senate Department for Urban Development and Environment, Berlin), Jacek Grunt-Mejer (Coordinator of the Program of Revitalization in Warsaw), Dipl.-Ing. Thomas Göbel-Groß, Urban Designer, Hanna Gill — (Piątek, Department of Revitalization, Łódź), Till Rehwaldt (Rehwaldt Landscape Architects).
WRA VI
The conference addressed the current situation of sustainability in cities. With global environmental impacts mainly due to cities, the question arises how we can create a stable and humane environment for urban residents. This is becoming increasingly important in light of ongoing demographic change and the “renaissance of cities.” Special attention will be given to the potential of green and open spaces in cities, which can provide not only environmental but also economic benefits. Speakers included: Dr.-Ing. Jan Kamiński (Chairman of the Council for Spatial Culture at the Mayor of Lublin), Landscape Architect Klaus Hoppe (Director of Horticulture Hamburg), Landscape Architect Lorenz Dexler (TOPOTEK1), Andrea Gerischer (Project Manager IGA Berlin 2017), — Architect Dr. Peter Apel (Planungsbüro STADTKINDER).
Date: June 10, 2016
Place: Zamoyski Palace — Association of Polish Architects (SARP), Foksal Street 2 in Warsaw.
Number of participants: 100
WRA V
The 5th Warsaw Architecture Talks focused on the topic of Innovative Housing and highlighted the experiences of the IBA Hamburg as well as the housing project “Nowe Żerniki” in Wroclaw. Forward-looking approaches to housing construction were discussed, including low-cost construction, intelligent building materials and flexible residential architecture. The event offered insights into IBA Hamburg’s concepts regarding low-cost construction, energy-smart facades and adaptable houses. At the same time, the residential project “Nowe Żerniki” was presented, a sustainable neighborhood in Wroclaw that aims for a high quality of life and a variety of uses. Presenters included: Ewa Malinowska-Grupińska (City Council President City of Warsaw), Uli Hellweg (Managing Director IBA Hamburg), Piotr Fokczyński, (City Architect of Wroclaw) and Arch. Michael Ziller (zillerplus architects).
Date: 16.11.2015 (Monday).
Venue: Zamoyski Palace — Association of Polish Architects (SARP), Foksal Street 2 in Warsaw.
Number of participants: 110
WRA IV
The fourth session of the Warsaw Architecture Talks focused on the Polish rental housing market and the introduction of a rental housing fund by the Polish government. It was discussed how affordable and high quality architecture can be realized in rental housing and which social and architectural aspects are important. The importance of socially mixed neighborhoods and the role of urban gardens in urban development were also addressed. SARP Oddział Warszawski was a partner of the event, supported by Fundacja Współpracy Polsko-Niemieckiej, PUCZYŃSKI — mała architektura and RINN. ARCHITEKTURA-MURATOR acted as a media partner. The speakers at this conference were Andrzej Klimczuk (sociologist, Warsaw), Tomasz Fudala (Muzeum Sztuki Nowoczesnej, Warsaw), Rainer Hofmann (bogevischs buero, Munich), Susanne Schnorbusch (architect, Berlin), Dr. Michael Ludwig (City Councillor for Housing, Housing Construction and Urban Renewal, Vienna) and Christoph Roedig (roedig. schop architekten, Berlin).
Venue: Pavilion SARP (Association of Polish Architects), ul. Foksal 2, Warsaw
Number of participants: 110
Date: 28.11.2014
WRA III
The third conference of the Warsaw Architecture Talks deals with demographic change and its impact on urban development. The focus is on new housing models for older people and architectural adaptation to their needs. European examples serve as inspiration. A field trip to senior living at the Alzheimer’s Center in Warsaw will be supported by Director Jarosław Gnioska and architect Miłosz Romanczuk (Kulczyński Architects). Renowned speakers, including architect Jörg Pötting, landscape architect Joerg Th. Coqui, managing director Krzysztof Lasoń, managing director
Jadwiga Dąbrowska and architect Dan Schürch will shed light on the topic. The conference is supported by SARP Oddział Warszawski and accompanied by PUCZYŃSKI — mała architektura, POZBRUK, CERMAG and ARCHITEKTURA-MURATOR.
Venue: German Embassy in Warsaw
Number of participants: 110
Date: 13.06.2014
WRA II
Concept, content preparation, organization and moderation of the international conference within the Warsaw Architecture Talks and organization of the excursion on the topic of NEW LIVING QUARTERS IN WARSAW — “19 Dzielnica” with kind support Marcin Citko from JEMS Architekci.
Lecturers:
Rafal Schurma (President, Polish Green Building Council)
Markus Penell (Managing Partner, O&O Baukunst)
Guest Prof. Nicole Pfoser (Architect, Master of Landscape Architecture, HfWU Nürtingen) Thomas Fabian (Deputy Director, City Planning Office, City of Freiburg im Breisgau) Zbigniew Macków (Macków Pracownia Projektowa, coordinator of the project)
Organizer: COQUI MALACHOWSKA COQUI Urban Planning Landscape Architecture, Foundation of Architects (Fundacja Twórców Architektury)
Support: German Embassy, Foundation of German-Polish Cooperation
Venue: German Embassy in Warsaw
Number of participants: 110
Date: 29.11.2013
WRA I
In Europe, large housing developments have been evolving for decades. Strategies vary by time and place: from building insulation to living environment improvements to urban redevelopment programs. Yet these measures have not always led to the prevention of resident displacement and demolitions. After 2000, increased reflection followed, also after subsidy programs. Are there similar processes in Poland or is the structure different there?
Germany offers positive experiences and recognized mistakes in modernization concepts that are instructive in dealing with the structural heritage of large housing estates.
Poland is home to the largest proportion of European residents of large housing estates. After energy-efficient refurbishment, further steps need to be taken. But which ones? What will develop sustainably in large housing estates in 10, 20 or 30 years?
Best strategies and procedures as well as differences and comparabilities between countries are of interest. Which developments can be implemented in the Polish market? What can the West learn from Poland?