PROSPECT OF WORKS TOMASZ BOJĘĆ
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zdjęcie z lego
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CURRICULUM VITAE DATA
date of birth: 02.04.1991 phone: 00 48 791 527 266 e-mail: tomaszbojec@gmail.com
EXPERIENCE
02.2016 - ... head of Ctrl_F5: research, branding & publication studio about implementation user experience methodology in the field of architecture and beyond, aimed at developing and spreading the knowledge about territories, buildings, spaces and strategies _research about academic spaces for University of Warsaw Innovation Office _analysis of workspace conditions and commercial real estate market in Warsaw, Poland _programme consulting for candidate at local government campaign in Wrocław, Poland _public relation strategy for BIM Point engineering office in Cracow, Poland _consulting for development strategy of Wrocław city for Bender Association 10.2016 - 02.2017 underinspector in the Architecture Department in Wrocław District Office 05.2016 - 11.2016 editor of publication prepared by the ECOC 2016 in Wrocław about Wisdom City 12.2015 - 04.2016 architect in the Architectural Office Arch_it 10.2014 - 09.2015 editor of publication of Masterplan 60+ for Ołbin and Kleczkow Districts (1 place for Internation Biennale of Architecture in Krakow) 07.2014 - 11.2015 cooperation with NGOs as a freelance designer in Wrocław 08.2014 - 10.2014 multimedia journalist in the local city department of Gazeta Wyborcza 05.2014 - 12.2014 cooperation with the ARCH magazine 02.2014 - … leading thinktank about architecture: BLOKBLOG (in 2018 rebrand to think:co) 08.2013 tutor at the international MEDS workshop in Lisbon 05.2013 cooperation with M. Siuda in project ‘Rogóżka’ in Museum of Architecture in Wroclaw 10.2012 - 12.2013 cooperation with the Architektura i Biznes magazine 12.2012 - 12.2013 member of the board at Polish Association of Architecture Students 06.2012 - 09.2012 internship in the Architectural Office +48 Pracownia Projektowa
EDUCATION
02.2015 - 01.2016 2 terms of 2.5 years LL.M. studies at Law, Admin. and Economy Department 06.2014 - 09.2015 Master of Science in Architecture programme at the Faculty of Architecture TU Wrocław (English-language programme) 10.2010 - 01.2014 Bachelor of Architecture programme at the Faculty of Architecture TU Wrocław 09.2004 - 06.2010 junior & high school by Group of General Schools no. 1 in Jelenia Góra 09.1998 - 06.2007 1st and 2nd level of State Music School in Jelenia Góra
LANGUAGES
polish - mother tongue english - fluent (C1) russian - basic (A2)
INTERESTS
by education: architecture, society, real estate, space, culture, music, cinematography, theater by passion: sociology, politology, media, advertising, public relations, law, economy, philosophy
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INSTALLATIONS & EXHIBITIONS
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THERE’S NOTHING HERE workshop project
Clear physical definition of sublimation is about direct transition from solid to gas state - omitting the liquid phase. We were thinking how we can translate this occurrence into the architecture design. After lots of deliberation we came to the conclusion that in architecture we cannot forget about the moment between - like liquid state in sublimation. This conclusion was applied to the area of work - Spichrzów Island in Gdańsk, a forgotten piece of land in the city located between downtown and a new residential area. The island is in the transitional time - the ruins located there, remains of the old Granaries, are waiting for demolition and after that, new residential building going to be erected in their place. When we tried to translate sublimation to different domains we noticed that it appears in the way of making decisions. This occurrence is absolutely binar - doesn’t leave the space for anything between. People often make their decisions in the same way. While preparing the design, we decided to forget about the island as a goal and use it as a medium which will move our idea of expanding the human consciousness of perception on more aspects of their lives. We didn’t want to change their opinions after all. Our goal was to try to force a moment of thought before making an opinion. To get this result, we tried to persuade the pedestrians to ask themselves the question ‘why?’. In order to get the attention of as many people as possible, we needed the ‘wow!’ effect. The final conclusion of the combination of these two needs, was more than two meters long letters, which appear in “THERE’S NOTHING HERE” cut out from fiberboard in accordance with the ‘Hollywood font’. The installations was set on the island - in the space which was unavailable for pedestrians, but well visible from the other riverside, so that it would be striking in the eyes of the Długi Targ, where most Gdańsks tourists go for a walk.
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RE_CREATES
Designing a public space is a non-standard task and not everyone will be successful in their attempt to complete it. One of the main issues is a question which you have to ask yourself at the very beginning - is even the most beautiful bench or lantern in the perfect urban system enough for the particular place in order to attract participation and interaction? We often see great spaces, which are constantly empty and die over the years until their existence, or maybe lack of it, becomes clear. It is all because of the fact, that both designers and local authorities usurp a right to decide what particular society needs. Well designed public space is mainly an effect of involvement of the society. It is obvious, that if it is supposed to work, its potential users have to be involved in the designing process - only then the final effect is able to fulfil their needs, not the artificial ones from the mind of a demiurge. Considering this thoughts we decided to create with participants a sort of a system, recycled IKEA-like elements for the public space, which could be linked in particular combinations, creating temporary spaces, and as the elements could be easily connected and disconnected, the created space would be rearranged and reshaped.
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ROGÓŻKA
A project made during the launch of Archi-box (temporary exhibition in Wrocław Museum of Architecture) was supposed to be a new chapter in the history of Rogóżka - a little village near Czarna Góra. Rogóżka was abandoned almost 30 years ago and brought back to public attention by the media in 2008, when one of the richest man in Poland was interested in buying it. It became entirely new story about passing and timelessness of architecture. The main part of the exhibition presented an record of the month of works on the project of new Rogóżka - starting from the emergence of an idea, followed by the sequence of events and situation influencing its shape, finishing with the terminally concept. The exhibition was asking a question of to what degree a design exists on it’s wond and is a result of combination of talent, relations and compromises and there are reasonable decisions of an architect. It was a mix of organisation and improvisation, rational choices and intuition and allowed the visitors to see the whole design process carried out in the thirty days. To produce up to date architecture there is a need for the new ways of designing. There is a thesis, that working that way we can rip contemporary creatures from the layers of kitsch and reveal a primary substance of architecture.
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SQUARES
In“The Nightmare of Participation�, Marcus Miessen writes that nowadays the role of architect evolves towards a mediator, whose task going to be translating social needs into the space language. An architect is going to be the one, who can ask questions, draw conclusions and convert them into architecture and urban planning. Such a practice, even though it is not yet very common, is becoming more and more popular - especially in developed countries. The above-mentioned processes are characterized by activity at the border of various fields, wherein none of them being used in a typical manner. Sociologists would consider heresy if we named whose processes as qualitative research. Psychologists will not allow to speak about conducting social analyzes in this cases. Even from the point of view of architecture and urbanism, this is an atypical activity that comes out in its own way in spite of the traditional method of working on space, which as a rule based on the developed knowledge and decisions made in a narrow group of specialists. Nevertheless, the effects of such work allow you to create a good space in a very effective way, even with limited financial means. Due to the unclear work description, delineate above, it is possible mainly to develop relatively small urbanistic projects, like ordering semi-private community courtyards and small public spaces - pocket squares, small gardens etc. However, the experience acquired in this way teaches how knowledge of the users’ needs (which the digital world has developed into a separate field of research called User Experience Analyzes) allows for the development of better, cheaper and more attractive spaces - such external courtyards and squares, as well as buildings with service or educational functions, commercial estates or work spaces.
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COMPETITIONS
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INSTICT/MIND 2nd prize
Once upon a time we were animals and vast unlimited space used to be our homes. We laid down to sleep where night caught us and got fed where we found nourishment. Instinct kept us from danger and instead of borders we had a vast open territory. It all has changed once we found out conciseness, and started to abstract thinking. Since that crucial moment human nature is in unceasing conflicted, torn between two polarized elements of our “I� - this first, primal instinct which leads us to survive and use the existing landscape in harmonic way; and second - abstract element which constantly redesignes and converts the surrounding space trying to make it functional with borders defined by planes of walls and ceilings. We stand on the border between our own rules and those, conferred to us by nature. But in spite out differences we still sleep, eat, have sex, rest, move as our ancestors did. They once ran after the fleeing prey. Today we run after the fleeing bus. We live between civilization and nature. It may be the reason we want to be alone and around people equally. Equally we desire activeness and stoic calmness. Wisdom and stupidity. Triviality and the complexities of human intelligence. Instinct and mind. We are not able to mute any of those two natures. Both are a part of us, like our arms or legs. That is why space that we live in has to meet the needs of both of our natures? We should live at home that offers both: freedom from frames and meaningful contact with nature, as well as possibility of functional geometrization of space in which the activities get defined; at the same time giving you the whole spectrum of intermediate states.
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UNTIME HOTEL 1st prize
Travels have many complications. The most problematic are trips to the other side of the world, when even a short 2-day log stay in another country for signing of a contract drastically changes the way our body works. It’s problematic both for our mental and physical health. Therefore, future hotels should be created in the way, that the consequences of such trips can be minimized as much as possible. One of the answers is Untime Hotel. This orthagonically arranged object in its idea is a new look at hotels created for short business trips. The Untime Hotel doesn’t have even a single window. Each wall and ceiling in the apartments are covered by milky polyetylene, under which will be mounted thousands of small lamps generating warm, yellow light of varying intensity. Their operation is related to the digitized system of programming rooms - so e.g. if we coming from Tokyo to Warsaw, we will be able to recreate almost 100% of the lighting conditions not only from specific city, but even its district. The hotel “sun” shines from the walls and ceiling, rising to setting just like in your home - even taking into account the location of our bed. The Untime Hotel is a completely universal project. It was based on a 1.5 meter module grid, so that the rooms are 3x3, 3x6 and 6x6 meters respectively, as well as all other interior elements - a staircase (6x6 meters), a lift block with communication (3x6) or corridors (1.5 meters wide). Such shaping of the object makes it possible to stand in the open space, as well as in the line of the facade of the downtown buildings, in any city of the world. The only constraints are: two service levels (lobby and restaurant) and repeating 1.5 meter modules.
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REPETITIVE FLOOR
CROSS SECTION
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HYBRID BOSTON final TOP 10
“Boston needs to continue our relentless focus on building housing. We need to build strategically, creating the right kind of housing for the next decade. Housing in Boston is an issue that touches every single citizen. Families need homes where they can gather to create and sustain the traditions of their culture. Seniors need housing that can support them as they age in place, so they may continue to call Boston home. And our college students need to be housed in ways that enhance and support our neighborhoods.� Thomas M. Menino , Boston major Housing politics of the last decades led us to the evolvement of inertial urban development which becomes a serious threat for our aglomerations. Reaction to the uncontrolled metropolisation should be a main task for our city governments. Wanting to resurrect a city centre Hybrid is proposed of a new value of cheap flats. To accomplish this we presented a projects linking advantages given by three main typologies shelter, privacy and independence. We designed a city quarter which creates an inner public space and living towers enabling the increase of the housing density. A structure is made out of elements of varied level of privacy in order to create well functioning society. Inner courtyard, galleries, small gardens with public services have a potential to bring new spatial values to the district.
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FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM The structure is formed from the elements with different privacy level, which are essential to create a well functioning urban habitat. Inner courtyard, galleries and small gardens combined together with public services have a potential to give completely new quality to the neighborhood. TOWER
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HOUSING UNITS
COMMUNICATION
PRIVATE GARDENS
PUBLIC PROGRAME
HOUSE EXTENSIONS
UNDERGROUND PARKING
MODULAR STRUCTURE
PUBLIC SPACES
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
VENTILATION
LIGHTING
PERFORATED FACADE
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FOUR SEASONS OF WOLA 1st prize ex-aequo
The “Four Seasons of Wola” project is an urban analysis and spatial-economic proposal for the development of one of the fastest growing areas of Warsaw – capital of Poland. Wola district in itself, can be seen as a record of urban and social transformation in modern times. After the destruction in the World War II, it was neglected and somewhat forgotten. After 1989 it became the main place of uncontrolled development of real estate investments. Walking around its area we will come across pre-war town buildings, multi-family blocks and high-rise buildings with an office function. We will find after-railway buildings, large commercial facilities, a museum adjacent to corporate headquarters and numerous empty properties awaiting for re-use. Wola district need a complete vision of the revitalization in order to take control of the chaos consuming the area. The „Four Seasons of Wola” are a complex design proposal, for limited areas of point activity, but combined together through proper management of public spaces and greenery - which may become a prelude for changes in the district, despite the relatively limited public finance and the public-private partnership.
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Calm traffic to by urban degradation of transit streets and induce communication balance
Organize the public space and stimulate the development of surroundings
Build higher only if compensated by increase quality of public space
All investitions should be linked to partnership projects
Tower part of the building in distance
Building base create context
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CONCEPTS
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WROCLAW TRADE CENTER
WTC project was created in response to the architectural concept presented for the main bus station area in Wroclaw. This plot, located in the heart of the city, deserves an attractive space which will use the communication potential and create enough high quality usable space, in order to satisfact both the city residents and the visiting guests, as well as the developer. Directions outlined by borders of the area and strong inflows of people have set a rational division of the plot, while maintaining the maximum possible density. The wide frontage streets should allow for attractive semi-public spaces, which are located inside three quarters thus seperate them from the noise of city streets. First quarter will be built by ‘Wrocław Palace of Culture and Knowledge’ (located in 70 meters high tower), high quality hotel and premium office building - all of them are connected by quiet atrium. Second quarter is based on apartment building, co-working office building and other, classic office building, supported by spa and fitness facilities. This will conduct active atrium, for those who looking for sport in the city center. Last ‘atrium’, enclosed by a glass roof will be located inside a market hall. It allows for the combination of features expected by the investor (like a shopping passage) with a rational, open form. Administrative service building, including polish Bus Transport Company offices, will be located next door in the building adjacent to the market hall.
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NEW MACHNICE
The project was prepared for an investor who inherited the land of the no longer existent PGR (state agricultural farm) near WrocĹ‚aw. In this place are a brick sheepfold building (from the east side) and two empty halls with broken roof covering, based on a half-timbered structure with beautiful wooden trusses on a concrete foundation. As expected, this place had become an attractive space of the high quality hotel with sport facilities and a possibility of hosting of special events. Thus, in a former sheepfold we proposed two saloons (dining and ‘common room’) which can be joined to organize the above-mentioned events. Between empty halls the is a row of sport and cultural facilities (tennis, volleyball, basketball, theater open form) and a carved terrain. In halls a number of functions rooms are located. Hence, the project included a hotel, a spa and home nursing facilities, as well as cottages that could over time be converted into private buildings. This concept - and resignation of the barracks forms - was inspired by existing in buildings wooden trusses which constitute not only reliance for the roof, but also create attractive, openwork arcades for functional units.
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ZITA OFFICE1stBUILDING prize in competition
Project decisions during the creation of the office building were taken mainly considering the restrictions of the urban plan, which assumed high levels of biologically active surface and guidelines of an investor, who, like always in the case of that type of building, expected maximum PUM with the relatively low costs. As a result, a decision was made to hide a maximum number of parking spaces below the ground, keeping the inside of a quarter free from parking. Required green areas are located on the ground level and on the green terraces made on the third and fourth storey above the ground. Two corners hover from the 3rd to 4th level beyond terraces, not exceeding the parameters of the high rise building, but creating attractively lit spaces. The ground floor of the building focuses mainly on public services expected by the investor - in the similar way is organised the space of an office building itself, giving maximal elasticity in the arrangement to the rentier. Additionally, “lightness” of a facade is achieved by placing of the irregularly divided windows and, everywhere where possible, highly glazed lower level, making the building visually float above the ground. The concept was created within the closed competition in summer of 2012. Construction and executive designs were created on the desks of the Maćków Pracownia Projektowa studio. Construction works were commenced in the last quarter of 2013. The first stage was finisher in 2014, and the use permit for the last part took place at the end of 2016. The Zita building has been certified in the LEED system at the Platinium level, which additionally increases the surface quality for tenants with a diverse profile. The commercialization process of Vantage Development is carried out jointly by Savills and Knight Frank.
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HIGH SCHOOL SPORT HALL
Physical development of a child is as important as their intellectual growth. That is why it’s so important, to create the right conditions for students to take care of their bodies. At the same time, it should be understood that apart from the playing field for basketball, handball, etc., it necessary to create smaller rooms, which allow for activities such as dancing, gymnastics, etc. The biggest task in the case of designing Sport Hall for Group of General Schools No. 5 in Wrocław, was to place all of the functional program it in a relatively small building, which height was limited by the height of the neighbouring buildings and the lighting conditions in the didactic rooms located in the school wing. It was also important to create the possibility of entering the sports hall building through the link with the school, on the 1st floor level.
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SECTION A
LEVELS AXONOMETRY
SECTION B
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2ND FLOOR
1ST FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
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DIPLOMAS
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RODZINA NA SWOIM
Both Polish and American citizens consider living in the multi-family buildings as a temporary period, a moment in life strictly connected to youthness. It is worth to notice that we too have our “american dream” which stems from the stereotypical archetype of “a real man” who has to grow a tree, build a house and have a son. This dream of our own house separated from the neighbours by the fence still remains up to date. The American analysis of the large-scale suburbs during the motorisation boom seems logical. The design links the advantages of this and European pattern in order to create a Polish model of a housing estate. There is still a remaining question - do we, creating this estate, have to build houses from brick and concrete? What if we could build it such a way, so that we can easily, comfortably and cheaply build, enlarge and cut down in the size, without involving a specialist? And later, when there will be a need to dismantle totally, sell a plain parcel if it increases its value? I found the solution in transform the ROD (family garen allotments) in the way the users of the area will take advantage of and to save „green lungs” which allotments were supposed to be. In my proposition nowadays users could buy the areas for themselves by very low price, but only if they going to build a light-structure family housing on them. It will be possible after 19 january 2014, when ROD will be under the egis of gardening societies in which Polish Society of Gardeners derogating the bill from 2005, according to which PSG was treated as an uniform area with its own government, at the same time being called a city public space. At this time we slightly diminish the area of parvels and affranchisement, with a possibility of non-taxed donation and a change of legal status.
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EXAMPLE HOUSE GROUND FLOOR
EXAMPLE HOUSE 1ST FLOOR
EXAMPLE HOUSE SECTION
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UNIVERSAM BETA
The project presented here was inspired by the desire to start the debate about the future of function in architecture - and the way in which future architects could learn to quickly react to changes occurring in the human space, in economic, social and cultural issues. From the very beginning it was an operation on the border between utopia and realism in order to not give readymade solutions, but only suggest the direction in which (among other) nowaday architecture can seek answers. This idea was born as a result of the analyzes of socio-spatial reception of Polish block estates (strongly unequipment in public services); research on semiotics the notion of “centre- making” in space - particularly on a scale of housing estate; and finally contemplation about needs of the new generation, now taking over the job market - and thus becoming progressively decident generation. In the context of these considerations, the observations and comments made in Z. Bauman publications about postmodernity times were extremely important. On the one hand, he is taming the monster of postmodernity by including it in understandable frame; on the other, he is fearing the consequences of his impact of civilization. Equally important was publication of T. L. Friedman’s “The World is Flat”, in which author explains a changing situation in the labor market as a consequence of the progressive digitization. Universam_beta is form of apogee look at subject matter, standing thus the said frontier, between utopia and real possibilities. Probably, economic analysis wouldn’t allow for such a development in Polish conditions - the cost significantly exceedes the gains, which would be a problem to both the private investor and a public one (expectation of rational public spending). Another condition that makes such development unlikely is a planned sale of the building from Spolem sp. z. o. o. to some another private entity. However, this wasn’t relevant in the context of the analysis Universam_ beta has to be a voice to start a future discussion about the architecture of the twenty-first century.
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GROUND FLOOR - UNDER THE “SLAB”
“SLAB” FLOOR
“SLAB” ROOF
PUBLIC AREAS
AREA OF MOST LIQUIDITY
MOST PRIVATE SPACES
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PUBLICATIONS
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POLISH PRESS
My first journalistic collaboration began in October 2012 as a report from the workshop Forgotten Scapes organized by the students of the Wroclaw Technical University in collaboration with Pedro Campos Costa, a respected Portuguese architect. Subsequent tasks in the first release were the preparation of the reports and establishing the relationship with the main edition of the workshops OSSA in Lublin. Both of these texts were published in the December issue of 2012. Further work for Architektura&Bizines has allowed me to develop my workshop. Over time, my articles were getting better and became the featured work, which unfortunately was not in convergence with the needs of the editors. The report from OSSA Wroclaw finished more than 12 months long cooperation - giving me satisfaction and a workshop, which a 3rd year student can only dream of. Despite the difference of opinion, thanks to the cooperation of Architektura&Biznes I learned about what and how I want to write. This awareness has pushed me to work with another step - work in newspaper editorial office instead of an architectural office. Thus, the autumn of 2014 years I began work in the editorial of largest daily newspaper in Poland - Gazeta Wyborcza. So after reports and feuilletons I had opportunity to learn how to work as urban journalist, getting a workshop in covering the economic issues and as a result becoming a competent publicist, aware of the problems of the writer and an ability to find the audience.
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BLOKBLOG
BLOKBLOG was an interdisciplinary research group investigating issues affecting urban life. We examined the issues from past and present situation, as well as the proposals for the future looking through the prism of architecture, urban planning, economics, sociology and law. We started of as a three young architects at the end of academic education. Doing such project was inspired by a number of different reasons. Firstly, for all of us ‘living in the city’ was more interesting than any other issue. This is an extensive and still open topic - because although this is strongly developed since the beginning of the last century, to this day, most of the problems related to it remain unsolved. Secondly, we believed that public discussions are too broad and general. We tried to redefine, analyze, explore, discuss, argue, educate and pursue share our knowledge. Thirdly - although we knew that we can’t find one, universal answer - we wanted to look for solutions that could be synergy between the experiences of our predecessors and ideas which are proclaimed today. Because all of this is exactly about ideas - today’s discussions are almost always related to tools, which we can change very easily, but not often enough to the ideas we frequently forgotten. During first year one of co-founder get independent trajectory - and his decision changed also the idea of our work. After that, we focused much more on analysis and publications. For example we’ve spend year and a half to examining the condition of architectural education at Polish universities. Also wrote few books about participations processes and project management. After 4 years from the creation of BLOKBLOG, in the beginning of 2018 it underwent major transformation. From now on, most of the urban life research will be moved to one person studio Ctrl_F5, led by me. On the other hand, that does not mean that BLOKBLOG is dead. It rebranded to THINK.CO - commercial real estate research lab which will be mainly managed by second BLOKBLOG co-founder.
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WISDOM CITY
Humans are characterized by a number of different quantifiers. From the perspective of our position and functioning in society, two qualities can be considered as the most important intelligence and wisdom. The first of them, in some way innate, can be developed only in a fraction. The second, is only an option. A wise human can be as well simple as complex person - stupid is the person who hasn’t obtained wisdom. This obvious division makes us always more appreciative of someone, who didn’t get anything from the fate of the opportunity but willingly invested in his development, becoming wiser even in the limited, available for him, range. For the incomprehensible reason, we look differently at cities. It’s only from a little over one hundred years that we started planning them in order for them to be efficient - but very often in an indoctrinatorial way resulting in errors similar to those of various political ideologies. Nowadays, in the last quarter of a century we have devised a new, quite special, goal for the cities we are planning -they should be smart. Today we already know the conditions of smart cities quite well. But this is not enough. We need wisdom in our cities and to use this wisdom - we need independence. In that compilation: intelligence, wisdom and uniqueness, we will be able to create developing cities in a truly balanced way. Cities, which accept the moment they are in; conflicts that digest them; economics that “controls” them. All this together may allow us to talk about saga-cities - places really built on a mutual sense of responsibility - because the foundation of the construction of a good city is the involvement of residents - for the social need of change.
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est. 2018
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