The Design La Grande Finale and "Week with Mentor" Internships | The Faculty of Architecture at the Gdańsk University of Technology

Last Wednesday, the Urban Design 2 studio, titled "New Urban Living," concluded its 4th-semester activities for the English program at the Faculty of Architecture with a grand finale on June 19, 2024. This event featured final presentations and awards from the "Week with Mentor" program, making it a truly memorable occasion.

Guest Lecture and Expert Insights

Architect Edyta Skiba kicked off the event with an enlightening lecture on Polish practices in large-scale residential planning. She showcased masterplans from the renowned Warsaw-based BBKG Architekci Office, including the Warsaw Social District and the Wroclaw River Shipyard. This introduction allowed students to compare and validate the content of their semester's lectures and design studio work. The ensuing discussion focused on the feasibility of implementing the mosaic district concept in Poland, emphasizing the role of flexible masterplans in creating complex and diverse urban structures.

Evaluation and Presentation of Student Projects

The event continued with the evaluation of student projects and the selection of works for public presentation. The jury comprised studio supervisors Dr. Gabriela Rembarz, PhD student Bahaa Bou Kalfouni, and external experts Edyta Skiba (BBKG Architekci) and architect Maciej Mazur (Axis Mason). Six projects were selected for presentation and discussion, authored by:

- Weronika Czarnecka & Weronika Werner
- Polina Bobyk & Miłosz Gochowski
- Alicja Kwiecińska & Maja Kopacz
- Zuzanna Komierzyńska & Jakub Kupisz
- Erasmus Program exchange students Louis Messerig & Robert Hackett
- Octavian Marchis

Awards and Internships

Among the participants, five top students were awarded the opportunity to participate in the second edition of the "Week with Mentor" program, developed by Dr. Gabriela Rembarz. This initiative offers students a unique chance to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practice through a week-long summer internship at leading Warsaw architectural studios: BBKG Architekci, MAMarchitekci, Archigrest, and APA Wojciechowski Architekci.

Last Year's Success

Last year's final of the UD2 studio "Smart Garden Suburbs" featured architect Szymon Wojciechowski from APA Wojciechowski Architekci. Professionals like Maciej Mazur and Szymon Wojciechowski provided valuable critiques and feedback to students, offering a week's internship to Ukrainian students Anna-Mariia Onishchuk and Danil Zinkevych. Other participants of the first "Week with a Mentor," including Alicja Pszenna, Julia Batorska, Wiktor Piepiórka, and Julia Sobieraj, found their short internships in renowned design studios in Warsaw to be invaluable experiences that positively shaped their future career paths.

We look forward to seeing our students continue to excel and make significant contributions to the field of architecture. Stay tuned for more updates and achievements from our talented students and faculty!