Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing 3rd and Student Award winners - Warsaw University of Technology

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd and Student Award winners of our "Beyond Isolation: Senior Housing competition – Karolina Maria Rorat, Ewa Helena Maniak and Zofia Zuzanna Zwijacz from Poland!

Karolina Maria Rorat, Ewa Helena Maniak and Zofia Zuzanna Zwijacz

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

We are architecture students from Warsaw University of Technology, currently in our fourth year.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

As students, we have been involved with many different-scaled academic projects, ranging from small shelters and single-family housing to urban-scale ones. We are still learning and exploring various design opportunities.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

We believe that architecture is not only a connection between art and science but, more importantly, a way of creating architectural facts through which we can start a dialog with society. For us, the role of the architect is to provide people with spaces that answer to their needs as well as with experiences that enhance their sense of identity and belonging.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

In our opinion, architecture competitions provide a wonderful opportunity to challenge ourselves by engaging in unconventional projects around the world. We thoroughly enjoy exploring different cultures, and architecture competitions serve as a means to do just that.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Risk it for the biscuit!