Location: A former bakery, now a studio. On Kuba’s screen, an industry forum and its comments section. Jakub walks in and brews coffee in an enamel mug.
“Hey buddy, how’s it going?” Jakub joked, glancing at Kuba’s clenched jaw.
“Great! ” Kuba jokes.
“I can see that! Are you reading the ‘kind’ comments from your colleagues under our project again?”
“If only it were about the substance, but it’s just the language, the vulgarity, and the hatred…”
“Come on, Kuba. It’s a waste of time to read them, and it’s definitely not worth responding to dishonest comments.” That’s exactly what they want—to provoke you. There’s a simple solution: “Don’t feed the troll: ignore, block, and report hateful content instead of responding with aggression.”
— Easy for you to say, Jakub… I can’t understand why educated people, who call themselves the elite, spew such hatred? What’s more, it’s being done by members of the Chamber of Architects, government officials, and university professors!
— It’s hard to explain, but there could be several reasons. Hate speech may stem from a desire to vent one’s own frustrations, low self-esteem, and a sense of impunity online. Haters often use hate speech to boost their self-esteem or simply out of boredom and a lack of interesting projects.
— Jakub, I find it hard to believe that someone would spend so much time writing comments and being mean instead of simply designing and showing something better. Proving that it can be done better! Isn’t that the way to express one’s opinion backed by concrete projects or completed work?
— I suppose I doubt it! Kuba, where were you born?! It’s easier to drag even the best project through the mud so that you look better by comparison. What worries me is that many, though they don’t comment negatively, don’t react and quietly rejoice that someone has taken a dig at the competition at the height of their success! Even studies show that only a few percent of those who read and do not accept this form of debate react with opposition to hate. There is a way to deal with unfair criticism. You can call aggressive critics to ask them to explain in a direct conversation what they’re really getting at, and then invite them to the office for a substantive discussion over coffee.
— Pffft! I don’t believe it! So, did anyone show up? You’ve really got me curious, Jakub…
— Well, no… And that, Kubo, shows the truth about these people. Brave online, but over the phone they somehow stumble over their words, and they don’t want to hear a thing about meeting for coffee. Suddenly they have no time and are very busy. We all know with what! It’s interesting to run into such people in public at conferences, at the government office, or even in a store. Suddenly they pretend not to see you or not to recognize you. They aren’t so brave anymore. Believe me, Kuba, it really amuses me!
— Ha, ha, good one, and does that always work?! — Kuba asked.
— Of course not. There are die-hard haters. Then we’re left with legal action. You have to remember that hate speech is simply a violation of the law, and in many cases, you have to take legal action as a last resort.
— I’ve drawn a conclusion from your experiences, Jakub. Maybe it’s worth talking more outside the internet, meeting up at community discussions, debates, or exhibitions. SARP and the A&B editorial team often organize such events. The architectural community cannot be a mutual admiration society; criticism is also necessary, even of the best projects. Without it, there is no development or learning. Maybe we could talk to some peopledifferently there ?
— Kubo, some people can’t be pried away from their desks and keyboards because they’re addicted to online criticism. What they write says much more about themselves than about those they criticize. Think about how often you hear the question: why do you work so hard? Can’t you be “normal”? And when you finally manage to achieve something, they won’t hesitate to remind you that “you were just lucky,” because they know nothing about your real life and your vision of your profession. The thing is, before you achieve success, your work makes no sense in the eyes of critics. But when you finally win, suddenly everything makes sense, and they find it hard to accept.
“ There’s something to that… I’d add that we should only compare ourselves to who we were yesterday.” The meaning of our work lies in constant self-improvement. Could this be the path to happiness in our profession, since even success can be so painful? — Kuba sighed.
— You see, a friend once asked me: how do you manage to let the blows of harsh criticism bounce off you like a steel statue? The truth is, it hurts me just like anyone else. But I have my own way of dealing with it: I measure my happiness by the health and well-being of my family, my loved ones, and myself. This allows me to find support in difficult moments, and sometimes I can also count on devoted friends—and it’s with them that I prefer to talk about what we’ve succeeded at and what we haven’t. From time to time—quite rarely, but still— ‘Architecture happens.’ It’s worth not missing that moment and properly celebrating it with a select group.
“Alright, Jakub, I’m shutting down this damn computer. Let’s sketch out your Architecture! ” Kuba joked, opening his Moleskine.
“Sure, but first I have to comment on something online,” Jakub smiled, showing the shiny blade of his Pilot G-TEC-C4 penknife.
* * *
In conversation:
Jakub Krzysztofik — architect and urban planner, and
Kuba Krzysztofik — urban planner and architect.
You could have met them in Poznań at ARCHI-STRADA during BUDMA’26. You definitely recognized them. Both dressed in black.
Note: This column contains product placement, although no one paid for it.
Jakub/Kuba Krzysztofik
more: A&B 3/2026 – The New Swiss Wave,
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