Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces #2 competition 3rd and Sustainability Award winner - Julia Mytnik

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the 3rd and Sustainability Award winner of our Re:Form - New Life for Old Spaces #2 competition – Julia Mytnik from Poland!

Julia Mytnik

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.

I participated in the competition as a student at the University of Technology in Cracow, where I’ve just completed my masters diploma. I diversified my studies and experience by participating in international student exchange programs and finishing one semester at CEU Cardinal Herrera University in Valencia and recently also at TU Delft in the Netherlands, where I broadened my horizons, learned different perspectives and further developed my own approach to architecture. In the future I hope to design spaces that honour their heritage and respond to the needs of the local community.

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 a young architect I am open to new ideas and various initiatives, but personally I mostly prefer to work with what already exists. I try to create spaces where the history and identity is honoured but under a new light that brings life to the forgotten. My respect towards the existing built environment has peaked during my studies at TU Delft, where we were adapting small protestant churches through keeping their primary function for the local believers but also enabling its constant use during the day to provide resources for maintenance. I was intrigued by intervention possibilities that provide meaning and even symbolism, and surprised by how much strength such a small scale design can have. My most important work, which was the basis for my Re:Form submission, was my masters diploma where I saw potential in an old, forgotten factory in my home town that occupies a large area just near the city center and decided to give it new life by creating a new hub for young minds.

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

Architecture has the unique ability to listen to different generations and experience the changing times. It is a silent neighbour that unknowingly accompanies us throughout life. Even when we don’t realise it, it’s always there - as a part of our identity, our memories and everyday life. That’s why our role as architects is to make sure that it constitutes a positive contribution, as we are the ones who have the power to connect the environment and the people who live within it. And it is a difficult and responsible role, as we should be able to make reasonable design choices that take into account the local community, the heritage and identity of space, the urban fabric and sustainability.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Competitions provide room to grow, to explore one’s own creativity and expand its boundaries. Through registering for the competition I wished to challenge myself, test my own creative thinking abilities and feel inspired to think boldly and create something meaningful. What I value in architectural competitions are their unique themes that often inspire to delve deeper and seek creative answers that may shape future architecture.

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

One of the virtues of architectural competitions is that one can create something bold, unexpected, test new ideas or simply one’s own limits and creativity. I also believe that it is profitable for personal growth to fiercely dedicate oneself to something and see how much one can accomplish. However, beyond the simple merit of potential winning, there is great value in challenging oneself, confronting significant global problems and seeking creative solutions that may even change one’s own view of architecture.