Jacek Droszcz - Architect
How has architecture changed in Poland over the past 25 years?
Jacek Droszcz:A quarter of a century in architecture is almost an epoch! At the beginning of the 1990s we thought we were already in Europe, but we were still a long way from it. Being open to capitalism, we had no capital. We created architecture that grew out of poverty, trying mask it with colours. We coloured the greyness and hopelessness of the 1980s. That moment coincided with the decline of eclecticism. Buildings were being erected which combined modern and historical styles. I have to admit that, in my opinion, the architects failed somewhat. Our suburbs were strewn with cubes, so-called "gargamels" were created, an endless number of mansions without any order or composition.
The liberation of the market gave us wings, but we did not know how to fly. Over the last few years we have only been learning to do so. In time, we started to travel the world and came back with new ideas. We were a bit worried about the differences between our architecture and that of the West. To start building icons, we first had to sort out the space around us.
Czy widać zmiany na lepsze?
JD: Mam wrażenie, że w dziedzinie architektury szybko dogoniliśmy Zachód. Studenci, którzy kończą nasze uczelnie, są poszukiwani w zagranicznych pracowniach architektonicznych. Z dumą przyjmujemy informacje, że są oni dobrze przygotowywani do swojego zawodu.
Do you see changes for the better?
JD: I have the impression that we have quickly caught up with the West in the field of architecture. Students who graduate from our universities are sought after in foreign architectural studios. We’re proud to hear that our students are well prepared for their profession.
What are some challenges for the future?
JD:Architects need to redefine their craft - mainly in terms of their technical ability to draw, design, or use architectural language. My generation was taught that the language of the architect is drawing. It is a skill that sets us apart from other engineers. It seems to me, and I say this with regret, that I represent the last generation to use architectural drawing. Technology overtook us. It allows us to produce documentation faster, and time is of the essence in the design process, but the computer cannot replace our thinking at the drawing board. Computer design lacks soul, but we can show it in a sensitive drawing and we will stick to that for the rest of our lives.
What should characterise "good" architecture?
JD: There is no recipe for 'good' architecture, but we always look for the best solution. We start by finding the right context. We want what we propose to be consistent with what surrounds us. We can't hide architecture easily, we are condemned to it. We often don't realise that it has an impact on our quality of life. We need to understand that the architect has a huge responsibility in the process of creating space.
I must honestly admit that Invest Komfort takes great care of this. No other developer has raised the bar so high when it comes to taking care of the space around their projects. What we get from Invest Komfort is not just a finished apartment, but also a consciously arranged space around it. Usually, the buildings of this developer set certain trends, both in the case of spatial solutions and façade solutions, textures or materials. Residential architecture has always been put in the background to the rest of the architectural world, yet this is not the case with Invest Komfort. Their buildings are icons of the Tri-city landscape.
Jacek Droszcz
Architect. For over 30 years he has led the Kwadrat Architectural Studio. Lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology, co-author of the headquarters of the World War II Museum in Gdansk.