Kinderspace #3 competition Sustainability Award winners - Alicja Anna Zioło and Hanna Weronika Lechowska

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Sustainability Award winners of our Kinderspace #3 competition – Alicja Anna Zioło and Hanna Weronika Lechowska from Poland! 

Alicja Anna Zioło and Hanna Weronika Lechowska

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.

Our team consists of two members: Alicja Zioło and Hanna Lechowska. We share a common educational background – both of us completed our undergraduate engineering studies at the Cracow University of Technology, and we are currently continuing our education in a master’s program at the Warsaw University of Technology. We met during a plein-air painting workshop in Kraków. Since then, we have been developing our shared interests and gaining experience together in the fields of architecture and design.

Our academic paths have differed to some extent. During her studies in Kraków, Hania actively took advantage of international opportunities – she studied, among other places, at the Polytechnic University of Milan and at a university in Seoul, and also completed an internship in Taiwan. At the same time, Alicja was gaining professional experience in Kraków, working in an interior design studio, carrying out her own projects, and engaging in charitable activities as a member of the board of a student organization. After completing our engineering degrees, both of us decided to continue our education in the master’s program at the Warsaw University of Technology. Despite our different experiences, we jointly decided to take part in a bilateral exchange program in China, in Beijing. It was there that our competition project for a kindergarten was created.

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?

For us, architecture is more than just buildings – it is a form of communication between space and people. It shapes our experiences, emotions, and daily life. Good architecture can inspire, protect, bring people together, and respond to social, ecological, and cultural needs. The role of an architect in society is therefore multifaceted. An architect does not only design structures but also shapes public spaces, promotes sustainable urban development, and creates places that support human interaction. An architect is a bridge between vision and reality - combining functionality with aesthetics, history with innovation, and individual needs with the well-being of the community.

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

Since Hania returned from Asia for the first time - still during our studies in Kraków - we spent a lot of time together on joint critiques. We also prepared together for the engineering exam and the entrance exams to Warsaw. In Kraków, we jointly took part in the “Smart City” hackathon, where we developed a concept for a household water-saving system, winning second place.

An especially interesting experience for us were the classes in the Technology and Structures specialization, during which, together with the entire group of students, we built the Community Pavilion in Łazienki Park in Warsaw. We worked together on the competition concept: Alicja was deeply involved in the design part - she devoted many hours to preparing technical drawings and developing an engaging concept with the design team - while Hania supervised the construction group and was responsible for coordinating the processes.

While building the pavilion, we simultaneously participated in a competition aimed at designing a school in Nepal that would be resistant to earthquakes and floods. Just before the pavilion’s opening, we learned that we had become semifinalists, which was very welcome news for us. Together, we decided to go on a bilateral exchange to China, where we completed a kindergarten design project. After returning from China, we also had the opportunity to participate in workshops in Valencia, organized in cooperation between the Universitat Politècnica de València and the Warsaw University of Technology, which was a fantastic experience.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We believe that working on projects is highly valuable and enriching—it broadens our horizons and provides a great sense of satisfaction. Our previous project work has allowed us to develop our creativity and explore new solutions. Architectural competitions offer the opportunity to experiment with ideas, materials, and spatial strategies, often in a freer way than in everyday design work. We were also eager for the competition projects to enhance our portfolio.

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

Participating in architectural competitions is a great opportunity to test your ideas in practice and face various design challenges. My advice for those who are hesitant is: treat it as an investment in your growth - even if you don’t win, the experience, contacts, and portfolio you gain are invaluable. It’s also worth carefully considering your goals: if you want to experiment, develop creativity, and gain experience with real projects, competitions are ideal.