Students from the Faculty of Architecture at the Wrocław University of Technology won awards and honors in the ninth edition of the “Archicad Diploma” competition. Among the eight winners were authors of master’s and engineering theses devoted to topics such as the revitalization of post-industrial areas, the preservation of architectural heritage, and sustainable development. The competition’s awards gala took place on October 5, 2026, at the headquarters of the Association of Polish Architects (SARP) in Warsaw. The competition is organized by WSC, the distributor of Archicad in Poland. Its goal is to promote young architects who use BIM technologies in their thesis projects. In this year’s edition, over 200 projects were submitted from technical and art universities across Poland.
Master’s Theses
First Prize – Jakub Zięba
Title: “Natura naturata: Nature and Education Center on a Post-Mining Site, Lower Silesia”
Advisor: Dr. Ada Kwiatkowska
Master’s Theses, First Prize – Jakub Zięba
© Wrocław University of Technology
The project involves transforming a former melafire quarry in Rybnica Leśna into a nature and education center. The concept combines landscape conservation with the introduction of new functions, making use of the existing topography. One of the most important elements of the project is a green bridge connecting the opposite slopes, which becomes part of the surrounding landscape.
1st prize, master’s thesis
© Jakub Zięba
3rd Prize – Ewelina Dyjach
Title: “A Vineyard in the Odra River Basin. A conceptual design for a vineyard with accompanying services and a study of optimal conditions for the location of wine production facilities in western Poland”
Advisor: Dr. Jakub Onyszkiewicz
Master’s Theses, Third Prize – Ewelina Dyjach
© Wrocław University of Technology
The thesis presents a vineyard as a multifunctional farm where production is combined with tourism, education, and recreation. The project takes into account the local landscape and existing farms, as well as solutions that support self-sufficiency and a closed-loop resource cycle.
Third Prize, Master’s Thesis
© Ewelina Dyjach
Honorable Mention – Wiktoria Gocałek
Title: “Adaptation of Decommissioned Offshore Platforms: The Case of Statfjord B in Norway”
Advisor: Kajetan Sadowski, Ph.D., Eng., Arch.
Master’s Theses, Honorable Mention – Wiktoria Gocałek
© Wrocław University of Technology
The project concerns the reuse of an offshore drilling platform in the North Sea. The author proposes transforming the existing infrastructure into a facility combining research, residential, and tourism functions. The concept also takes into account environmental protection and the challenges associated with the energy transition.
Honorable Mention, Master’s Thesis
© Wiktoria Gocałek
Honorable Mention – Weronika Piotrowska
Title: “Between Persistence and Disappearance” – A Dispersed Open-Air Museum of Sudeten Architecture as a Form of Heritage Preservation
Advisor: Wojciech Januszewski, Ph.D., Eng., Arch.
Master’s Theses, Honorable Mention – Weronika Piotrowska
© Wrocław University of Technology
This thesis proposes an alternative model for the preservation of Sudeten architecture. Instead of creating a traditional open-air museum, the author proposes relocating valuable buildings to the village of Młoty and integrating them into the existing fabric of the village. The project combines heritage preservation with social, educational, and tourism functions.
Honorable Mention, Master’s Thesis
© Weronika Piotrowska
Engineering degrees
2nd Prize – Kacper Klaus
Title: “Iskra: Center for Local Activity on the Site of the Former Hutmen Enterprise on Grabiszyńska Street in Wrocław”
Advisor: Ada Kwiatkowska, Ph.D., Eng., Arch.
Engineering Theses, Second Prize – Kacper Klaus
© Wrocław University of Technology
The concept involves creating a center on the site of the former Hutmen enterprise that combines social, educational, and research functions, with a particular focus on botany and hydroponics. The design utilizes a form inspired by a hipped roof. Among the eco-friendly solutions is the use of the former water tower for energy storage.
Second Prize, Engineering Diplomas
© Kacper Klaus
Honorable Mention – Miłosz Brdys
Title: “Local Activity Center for the Popowice Neighborhood in Wrocław”
Advisor: Jakub Onyszkiewicz, Ph.D., Eng., Arch.
Engineering diplomas, Honorable Mention – Miłosz Brdys
© Wrocław University of Technology
The project addresses the future of prefabricated concrete panel buildings and the potential for reusing materials from existing structures. The author proposes the creation of a community facility that combines the needs of the local community with the principles of responsible resource management and sustainable development.
Honorable Mention, Bachelor of Engineering
© Miłosz Brdys
Honorable Mention – Emilia Krajewska
Title: “Sports and Recreation Center on the Warta River in Częstochowa”
Advisor: Dr. Marek Lamber
The project envisions the construction of a facility combining a canoe marina, sports facilities, dining options, and exhibition spaces. The proposal complements the concept of revitalizing the city’s boulevards. The functional program has been tailored to the riverside environment and the needs of both residents and visitors to the city.
Honorable Mention, Bachelor of Engineering
© Emilia Krajewska
Honorable Mention – Bartosz Tenenberg
Title: “Villa Romana Exhibition Pavilion in Alicante”
Advisor: Paweł Kirschke, Ph.D.
The project involves the creation of a pavilion that protects the remains of a Roman villa dating from the 1st–4th centuries CE and makes them accessible to visitors. The concept is based on a minimalist form, respect for archaeological values, and the principles of minimal intervention and reversibility of the solutions employed.
Honorable Mention, Bachelor of Engineering
© Bartosz Tenenberg
Architecture in the Face of Contemporary Challenges
The award-winning projects address a variety of issues—from the transformation of post-industrial sites and the reuse of existing infrastructure to the preservation of cultural heritage and the design of spaces serving local communities. What unites them is the search for solutions that take into account both the specific conditions of the site and the environmental and social consequences of design.
Congratulations to all the winners and their advisors!
