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Light that speaks. International recognition of a student of the Silesian University of Technology!

21 of May '25
w skrócie
  1. Jakub Ciszewski of the Silesian University of Technology's Faculty of Architecture won an honorable mention in the international competition "The Home of Shadows."
  2. The competition, organized by Buildner, was about designing a house without the use of artificial lighting.
  3. Jakub Ciszewski's project is a conceptual house in Monsanto, Portugal, based on his master's thesis carried out under the supervision of Dr. Jan Kubec.
  4. The jury of world-class architects appreciated the conscious use of light as the main design material.
  5. The project combines sensitivity to the context of the site with an innovative approach to light as a tool of architectural narrative.
  6. For more interesting information, visit the home page of the AiB portal.

Jakub Ciszewski, a student at the Silesian University of Technology's Faculty of Architecture, won an honorable mention in the prestigious international architectural competition "The Home of Shadows", organized by the Buildner platform. The competition, whose jury was made up of prominent architects - including Blake T. Smith of the renowned BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group studio - presented participants with quite a challenge: to design a house using only natural light, without the possibility of using artificial lighting.

przekrój

cross section

© Jakub Ciszewski

The project submitted by Jakub Ciszewski was not just a one-off concept created for the competition - it is part of his master's thesis, carried out under the guidance of Dr. Jan Kubec. The project is currently being developed and refined in preparation for his thesis defense, scheduled for May of this year.

a house without a light bulb - architecture of the senses

The competition requirements forced the participants to think deeply about the role of light in living space. The architects were to design a house for a hypothetical couple, unable to reach for any form of artificial lighting. Only daylight - and at any time of day - was to shape the atmosphere and functionality of the interior.

salon

living room

© Jakub Ciszewski

Jakub Ciszewski decided to locate his project in the Portuguese village of Monsanto, known for its unusual, almost fairy-tale-like buildings incorporated into massive rock formations. This place, where nature and architecture have intermingled for centuries, became an inspiring backdrop for his concept. The site, located at the foot of a mountain massif, with monumental boulders integrated into the urban fabric, created ideal conditions for experimenting with natural light as an architectural material.

The goal of the project was not only to create a functional living space, but first and foremost to explore and use light as a tool of architectural narrative - a way of telling a story through the play of light and shadow. The result is a house that lives by the rhythm of the sun: it changes according to the time of day, influences the mood of the users and stimulates their senses.

jadalnia

dining room

© Jakub Ciszewski

architecture as a story

Ciszewski's design fits perfectly into current discussions about conscious and responsible design. At a time when technology is increasingly moving us away from direct contact with nature, this work is a reminder that daylight doesn't just illuminate a space - it creates it. The play of light and shadow, the subtle transitions between light and dark, the variation of mood - all of these influence the way residents perceive their surroundings.

The design takes advantage of the site's topography, natural obscurations and precisely planned architectural openings - such as skylights, gaps in the walls or fiber optics - that direct the sun's rays into selected parts of the interior. This adds depth to the space and allows users to experience it in an almost meditative way.

przestrzeń medytacyjna

meditative space

© Jakub Ciszewski

honorable mention with potential

The distinction awarded to Jakub Ciszewski by the international jury is a recognition of his design maturity and creative awareness, which is rarely seen at the thesis stage. It is also a significant success for the entire Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology, whose students are increasingly competing successfully on the international stage.

Not without significance is the fact that the competition evaluated not only aesthetics or creativity, but also the ability to integrate the designed solutions with the local context - both cultural and environmental. Ciszewski's design fit perfectly into these assumptions, harmoniously combining the history of the place with a modern approach to light architecture.

sypialnia

bedroom

© Jakub Ciszewski

Although the project is yet to be officially defended as part of the thesis, it can already be spoken of as a significant achievement by the young architect, which will certainly be noticed outside of academia as well. "The Home of Shadows" competition is a platform for creators who are able to go outside the box, think critically and design with empathy - and Jakub Ciszewski's work more than meets these criteria.

Aleksandra Skorupa

The vote has already been cast

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