Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact / Edition #2 Honorable mention winners - Michalina Grzyb and Kinga Osowska

 We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winner of our "Pavilion Of Humanity: First Contact / Edition #2" competition – Michalina Grzyb and Kinga Osowska from Poland!

Michalina Grzyb and Kinga Osowska

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 both final-year architecture students at Magdalena Abakanowicz University in Poznan. Our work was supported by Architect Tomasz Osięgłowski of Ultra Architects in Poznan.

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?

Michalina Grzyb: I would like to refer to two projects of contrasting scales. The first is a dendrotherapy furniture project within the framework of the international Mood for Wood workshop. The bench we built is meant to serve as a calming space, facilitating contact with nature.

This seemingly simple piece of furniture is designed not to distract users but to allow them to immerse in nature. For more details, you can visit: https://moodforwood.com/the-bench-forest-bath/.

Currently, I have the pleasure of participating in the construction of the Polish Embassy in Berlin. In this project, I am taking my first steps not as an architect but as a construction engineer.

Kinga Osowska: I would like to mention a few important projects in which I have been involved.

My diploma project in Architectural Engineering is titled 'Between Ice and Fire: A Tourist Facility at the Foot of Black Volcano in Iceland.' The project was a response to a competition brief and I am glad that it was recognized as the best diploma in both the site and the voting.

For more details, you can visit: https://dyplomy.fontnieczcionka.pl/dyplomy/2022#pomiedzy_lodem,_a_ogniem__obiekt_turystyczny_u_podnoza_black_volcano_na_islandii_.

Additionally, I was responsible for the interior design of the architectural office where I worked. I created customized solutions, designed individual spaces, and was in charge of their execution and supervision, all following the wabi-sabi style.

Currently, I am responsible for conceptualizing buildings in the picturesque landscape of the Mazury region in Poland. This experience is highly valuable for me because, apart from conceptualizing, I am also involved in the entire implementation process of more than a dozen buildings. This topic is exceptionally interesting for me as it involves the dialogue between humans and nature and traditional architecture."

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

Architecture serves various functions, but for us, the most important aspect is its social impact. Well-designed buildings have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life. Therefore, an architect should be someone who actively contributes to positive social change.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

We participate in competitions because they offer almost unlimited opportunities. It is the only chance to fully present your ideas.

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

In architectural competitions, there is ample room to showcase one's skills, but one must expect criticism. However, the work of an architect involves constant, sometimes unfavorable, evaluation.