This time apartments. This time from a well-known Warsaw studio. JEMS Architects received the Grand Prix of the Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 for the unique Solna 6 residential complex in the center of Poznań. There were also prizes and awards in eight categories. The level? Mostly high.
This was the sixth edition of the competition for the Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region. It is organized by the Poznań branch of the Association of Polish Architects in cooperation with the Wielkopolska Regional Chamber of Architects under the honorary patronage of the Wielkopolska Marshal's Office. The competition has already grown into a permanent part of the annual calendar of important architectural events. It has also strongly discounted the popularity and importance of the Jan Baptista Quadro competition, which evaluates only the realizations of Poznan (organizer: City Hall of Poznan and UWI Inwestycje).
Every year the realizations of the past season are analyzed by a jury with a different composition and under a different leadership. This time the work of the jury was headed by Warsaw architect Szczepan Wroński of the WXCA studio (full composition of the jury below the text). From the very beginning, a very good practice of the competition is local inspections of nominated objects and places; the jury does not judge only on the basis of charts and photos. A great plus has also been for some time the supplementation of diplomas and statuettes with financial awards from the pool of the provincial government (from 5 to 20 thousand zlotys - details below the text).
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship 2025 - nominations in the "multi-family residential building" category.
source: NAWW organizers, naww.pl
In September, 25 projects in six fields were selected for the final round of the competition from submissions. Two studios were also nominated in the Young Artist category. The level of nominations should be rated highly and considered comparable to the past two years, with an indication of a renewed shortage of realizations of public spaces. Better than in the past (which does not mean sufficient), on the other hand, was the selection of residential architecture , from which the main winner was selected. However, it is - unfortunately - still commercial architecture for wealthy clients. TBSes on the scale of the famous Ajnfart have not yet been developed in Wielkopolska. Budget real estate development of a decent level - probably not either.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - GRAND PRIX and prize in the category MIXED MULTIFAMILARIAN BUILDING: Solna 6 in Poznań, designed by JEMS architects: Maciej Miłobędzki, Dominik Wroński, Radosław Kacprzak, Urszula Kos, Agnieszka Rokicka, Marta Świątek - Piziorska
source: NAWW organizers
as before the war
The results of the competition were announced on November 28. So how does the realization honored with the Grand Prix and - at the same time - the award in the "multi-family residential building" category look like? The Solna 6 residential complex by the widely known in the country capital studio JEMS Architekci is located in the very center of Poznan at the foot of the historic St. Adalbert's Hill, half a kilometer from the Old Market Square. We described it in detail in the summer. The complex of two buildings with distinctive "pleated" facades stands amidst a mature old-growth forest between the Prosecutor's Office building and the Jordan garden on Solna Street. The standard is among the highest in Poznań. The apartments are mostly about 80 sq. m., the height of the rooms reaches 3 meters (3.5 on the top floor of one of the buildings). Finally, a significant, though invisible at first glance, distinguishing feature is the 60 cm thick external walls - without insulation, covered with traditional plaster. Also noteworthy is the high standard of design and finish of the spacious common areas. The jury was unanimous in awarding the prize for
writing a new chapter in the history of Poznan and Polish residential architecture. (...) combining masterful virtuosity in building living spaces with broader thinking about the city. The result is a piece of metropolitan fabric with its own recognizable identity, which at the same time - since its completion - seems to have always existed in this place.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship 2025 - GRAND PRIX and award in the category MULTIFAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING: Solna 6 in Poznań, proj. JEMS architects: Maciej Miłobędzki, Dominik Wroński, Radosław Kacprzak, Urszula Kos, Agnieszka Rokicka, Marta Świątek - Piziorska
source: NAWW organizers
The judges also appreciated the restoration of the importance of the skillfully introduced gradation of space - from public to semi-private to private - as well as the layouts of the high apartments, the lighting of the staircases and the detailing, which, in their opinion, seems to echo the best pre-war residential developments.
This is the first time the famous JEMS have been honored with an NAWW award. Previously, however, they won the J.B. statuette. Quadro for the Pixel office building (2012). Another above-standard and successful residential complex of their design is under construction in Poznań. It is called Perfumeria and is located next to Wilson Park. We described it exactly two years ago. The completed first stage last year did not get the NAWW award, because - according to unofficial information - the jurors decided to wait with the evaluation until the whole complex was completed.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - GRAND PRIX and award in the category MIXED MULTIFAMILARIAN BUILDING: Solna 6 in Poznań, designed by JEMS architects: Maciej Miłobędzki, Dominik Wroński, Radosław Kacprzak, Urszula Kos, Agnieszka Rokicka, Marta Świątek - Piziorska
source: NAWW organizers
jury wants to kindergarten
What won in the other categories? The award in the field of public building went to the "Bajka" kindergarten in Baranowo near Kepno, on the far southern outskirts of the province. The building was designed by Studio Warsztat - Mikołaj Wower, Piotr Ewiak. The jury appreciated not only the friendly form, but also the functioning of the building observed during the site visit . In their opinion, the architects created:
A space that perfectly responds to the needs of users, as evidenced by their smiling faces. (...) In this building, sounds are a pleasant din, rather than becoming a nuisance. (...) Warm, pleasant materials create an atmosphere of coziness - until one would like to be a child again and grow up in such a space.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - award in the PUBLIC UTILITY BUILDING category: kindergarten "Bajka" in Baranów, proj. studioWarsztat - Mikołaj Wower, Piotr Ewiak
source: NAWW organizers
An honorable mention was also awarded in the same category for the transformation of one part of the New Theater in Poznan. The quality and functionality of the foyer serving the New Stage and Third Stage was improved, and a meeting and integration area for viewers was taken care of. The entrance area has been enlarged. The project was carried out by the IMERCON | KONTRAPUNKT team (Magdalena Masełkowska, Agnieszka Andrzejak, Barbara Cegiełkowska, Michalina Urbańska, Weronika Grzystek). Among other things, the jury appreciated the achievement of sizable and interesting effects at low cost.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship 2025 - honorable mention in the category PUBLIC UTILITY BUILDING: Izabella Cywińska New Theater in Poznan, designed by IMERCON | KONTRAPUNKT: Magdalena Masełkowska, Agnieszka Andrzejak, Barbara Cegiełkowska, Michalina Urbańska, Weronika Grzystek
source: NAWW organizers
extraordinary category
The list of awards also includes the "revitalization" category, which was not singled out during the nominations. It was added to honor a realization that competed in the field of "public facility." We are talking about the Betonhaus and the Hugger Brewery in Poznan's Wilson Park, restored and adapted to catering purposes by the CDF Architekci studio. The authors of the realization described in detail by us, the jury appreciated, among others.
for what has been designed, but also for conscious restraint - the ability to stop at a time when it would be easy to design too much. As a result, it was possible to restore the original shape of the development and adapt it to its new function in such a natural way that today the building seems as if it had been intended to serve that function from the beginning.
Also mentioned in the opinion are the studios that created the interiors of the three dining establishments in Betonhaus: DOT interiors, wiercinski- studio, Stanislaw Lakinski.com.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - award in the category REVITALIZATION: Betonhaus and Hugger's Brewery in Poznań, proj. CDF Architects (architecture). Interior architecture: DOT interiors, wiercinski- studio, Stanislaw Lakinski Lakinski.com
source: NAWW organizers
water and Moneo
Three works competed in the poorly nominated, albeit extremely important, "common space" category. All of them related to water. The winners were the Berdych Bridges from Poznań, i.e. two pedestrian and bicycle crossings opened in February, connecting the Old Town with Ostrow Tumski, the Polytechnic University and Lake Malta. a consortium of creators (winning the 2018 competition) is responsible for their design: Błażej Szurkowski - SKI Studio Sp. z o.o.,lead designer, Jerzy Gurawski, Bartosz Gurawski - ARPA Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski), Maciej Sokolnicki - MS86A, Adam Turczyn - Foolscap. Executive design of the structure: Jerzy Niewczas - PONTES, M.Sc. Their exceptionally elegant, timeless forms were also appreciated by the jury for:
respect for the historic context of Ostrów Tumski - the cradle of the Polish state - shown, however, without servitude. The contemporary character of the footbridges and the whiteness of the construction clearly cut off from the green surroundings, and at the same time, paradoxically, they fit into them. The bridges are like a boulevard suspended over the rivers - offering wide promenades and routes for cyclists and unobstructed views.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - award in the category COMMON SPACE: Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznań, proj. Błażej Szurkowski (SKI Studio Sp. z o.o.,lead designer), Jerzy Gurawski, Bartosz Gurawski (ARPA Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski Sp. z o.o.), Maciej Sokolnicki (MS86A), Adam Turczyn (Foolscap). Executive design of the structure: Jerzy Niewczas, M.Sc. (PONTES)
source: NAWW organizers
In competition with such a prominent structure, the lesser-known but also interesting Nadnoteckie Boulevards in Wielen (Neostudio) and Kasztelanska Island in Krobi (Glowacz Landscape Architecture Studio) lost out. The public space and its author also triumphed in the "export work" category for the best work by Wielkopolska architects done outside the province or the country. The trophy went to Pawel Grobelny, who has already been awarded many times for his objects. This time the city benches for the Town Hall Square in Logrono, Spain, were appreciated for their
a subtle but uncompromising intervention in the public space of City Hall Square. The work complements and enriches Rafael Moneo's design with great respect, but also without complexity .
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - award in the category EXPORT WORK: urban benches for the City Hall Square in Logrono (Spain), design: Pawel Grobelny
source: NAWW organizers
veneer in weight
Also available to the public are two projects appreciated in the interior category. The first, awarded, is the Food Hall in Stary Browar in Poznań (proj.: mode:lina, composed of Kinga Kin, Paweł Garus, Jerzy Woźniak, Małgorzata Wawrzynek, Ewa Pawlicka-Garus, Lidia Jeżak, Beata Czarnocka, Aneta Leśniak). This carefully decorated space aims to revitalize the declining second floor of Poznan's iconic shopping center.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship 2025 - award in the category INTERIOR: Food Hall in Stary Browar in Poznań, proj.: mode:lina : Kinga Kin, Paweł Garus, Jerzy Woźniak, Małgorzata Wawrzynek, Ewa Pawlicka-Garus, Lidia Jeżak, Beata Czarnocka, Aneta Leśniak
source: NAWW organizers
An honorable mention in this category also went to designers from Atelier Starzak Strebicki for their design of the sanitary part of the City Scales in Poznan's Old Market. The jury writes about the interiors:
They have the character of light oak veneer furniture, inserted as if only for a moment, which can be read as a sign that the architects do not claim the right to permanently annex the interiors of an object
with centuries of history.
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - honorable mention in the INTERIOR category: the City Scales in Poznań, designed by Atelier Starzak Strebicki - Pracownia Architektury s.c.
source: NAWW organizers
Finally, it's time for the last category of an implementation nature: "single-family house", which has been continually holding its own in the NAWW competition, although, as we have already written, both it and interiors deserve rather separate competitions. The award here went to the studio for "House on the Lake" (proj.BOAA: Michał Bekas, Eryk Szczepański, BSD Konstrukcje Jacek Kryske) in Stęszewek, near Poznań. The jury awarded the prize for
accessibility played out on many levels. The house has access to the lake, light and greenery, and at the same time is economically accessible. Behind its architecture is a consistently realized, strong idea - reconciling the expectations of the residents, the context of the place and a modest budget - so that even the cheap materials used from the building market gain a new expression. (...) In an era of "instagram" mansions for show, this realization captivates with its sincerity (...).
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region 2025 - award in the category of SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE: House on the Lake in Stęszewko, proj.: BOAA: Michał Bekas, Eryk Szczepański, BSD Konstrukcje Jacek Kryske,
source: NAWW organizers
This category was also not without honorable mention for the PL.architekci studio , which has specialized in this type of architecture for years. The designers have already collected many awards for their houses, but also for public buildings (last year's NAWW Grand Prix). This time the "House under the Forest" was honored with the award . The jury appreciated "precise and complete architecture, (...) testifying to the maturity and mastery of the authors' workshop."
Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Voivodeship 2025 - honorable mention in the category of SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE : The House Under the Forest in Poznań, design: PL. Architects, Bartłomiej Bajon, Katarzyna Cynka- Bajon, Agnieszka Jurenko, Michał Rams, BSD KONSTRUKCJE, Jacek Kryske, Patryk Kasprzyck
Source: NAWW organizers
boiler room and the young
Among the nominated, but not awarded, single-family houses, it is worth noting at the same time the house, which was built as an adaptation of a former boiler room in Poznan Gardens (design: CALCA STUDIO ARCHITECTURY : Marcin Piątek, Michal Sakowski, Lukasz Pawluś). The last category of NAWW is called "Young Artist" and was awarded this year to the studio
OFFICE INAINN- Hanna Helena Sawicka, Maksymilian Sawicki. The judges wrote in the verdict that, among other things.
the austerity of INAINN's designs is firmly rooted in the natural context and does not try to compete with it. Their interior designs create a background for people and objects without imposing their aesthetics on them.
The award ceremony took place on Friday, November 28, at the Arsenal City Gallery in Poznan.
Jakub Głaz
The Chapter of the Architectural Award of the Wielkopolska Region, consisting of:
M.Sc. arch. Szczepan Wroński - chairman of the chapter, SARP Warsaw
M.Sc. arch. Karol Nieradka - SARP Szczecin
mgr inż. arch. Beata Stobiecka - SARP Wrocław
mgr inż. arch. Inga Rolek - representative of the Board of SARP Poznań
mgr inż. arch. Mariusz Jakubczyk -representative of the Board of WPOIA RP
mgr inż. arch. Tomasz Malkowski - journalist, architecture critic
M.Sc. arch. Aida Januszkiewicz - Piotrowska - representative of the Governor of Wielkopolska, member of the WPOIA of the Republic of Poland
mgr inż. arch. Jowita Maćkowiak - representative of the Marshal of the Wielkopolska Region.
List and amount of awards and distinctions
GRAND PRIX and award in the category MULTIFAMILARIAN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
Solna 6 residential complex in Poznan
Authors: JEMS architects: Maciej Miłobędzki, Dominik Wroński, Radosław Kacprzak, Urszula Kos, Agnieszka Rokicka, Marta Świątek - Piziorska
Financial awards in the amount of PLN 20,000 (Grand Prix) and PLN 5,000 (multi-family residential building) funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
single-family house category
The House on the Lake in Steszewko
Authors: BOAA: Michał Bekas, Eryk Szczepański, BSD Konstrukcje Jacek Kryske, sanitary installations Joanna Łamek, electrical installations: Rafał Olszewski
Financial award in the amount of PLN 5,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
Honorable mention for the architectural work:
House Under the Forest in Poznań.
Authors: PL. Architects, Bartłomiej Bajon, Katarzyna Cynka- Bajon, Agnieszka Jurenko, Michał Rams, BSD KONSTRUKCJE, Jacek Kryske, Patryk Kasprzycki
PUBLIC UTILITY BUILDING category:
"Bajka" kindergarten in Baranow
Authors: studioWarsztat - Mikołaj Wower, Piotr Ewiak
Financial award in the amount of PLN 10,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
Honorable mention: Izabella Cywińska New Theater in Poznan
Authors: IMERCON | KONTRAPUNKT: Magdalena Masełkowska, Agnieszka Andrzejak, Barbara Cegiełkowska, Michalina Urbańska, Weronika Grzystek
category COMMON SPACE
Berdychowskie Bridges in Poznan
Authors: arch. Błażej Szurkowski (SKI Studio Sp. z o.o.,lead designer), arch. Jerzy Gurawski, arch. Bartosz Gurawski (ARPA Jerzy and Bartosz Gurawski Sp. z o.o.), arch. Maciej Sokolnicki (MS86A), arch. Adam Turczyn (Foolscap). Executive design of the structure: Jerzy Niewczas, M.Sc. (PONTES)
Financial award in the amount of PLN 10,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
category REVITALIZATION
Betonhaus and Hugger's Brewery in Poznan
Authors: CDF Architects, Interior Design: DOT interiors, wiercinski- studio, Stanisław Łakiński Lakinski.com
category EXPORT WORK
Urban benches for the Town Hall Square in Logrono (Spain).
author: Pawel Grobelny
Financial award in the amount of PLN 10,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
INTERIOR category
Food Hall in Stary Browar in Poznan
Authors: mode:lina : Kinga Kin, Paweł Garus, Jerzy Woźniak, Małgorzata Wawrzynek, Ewa Pawlicka-Garus, Lidia Jeżak, Beata Czarnocka, Aneta Leśniak
Financial award in the amount of PLN 5,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
Honorable mention: the City Scales in Poznan.
Authors: Atelier Starzak Strebicki - Pracownia Architektury s.c.
YOUNG CREATIVE category
OFFICE INAINN - Hanna Helena Sawicka, Maksymilian Sawicki
Financial award in the amount of PLN 15,000 funded by the Local Government of the Wielkopolska Region
