Once again, the European Center for Architecture, Design and Urban Studies and the private Museum of Architecture and Design, the Chicago Athenaeum, identify the most promising young architects and architects. This year, the prestigious Europe 40 under 40 list includes Pawel Kobierzewski, co-founder of the TKHolding studio. What part of his body of work caught the attention of the international jury?
The Europe 40 under 40 list identifies rising stars on the European architectural scene. The international jury, which this year was co-founded by William Yon, Christine Kwong, António Choupina and Olivia Argentini, evaluates the achievements of young architects based on the projects attached to the submitted applications. There is a fee to participate in the competition, and each time it results in a list of the 40 most promising male and female architects under the age of 40. In this year's edition, Paweł Kobierzewski, co-founder of the TKHolding studio, made it to the prestigious group.
SOL@RES complex in Rzeszow
design: TKHolding
Paweł Kobierzewski on the 40 under 40 list!
Paweł Kobierzewski graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Silesian University of Technology in 2010, where he still teaches classes on information flow in the design process, and is also active in digital media as co-founder of the #prowadzacarchitekture channel on YouTube. He is the author of numerous recreational buildings, and co-founder of the TKHolding studio and DreamWorlds. Privately, he is passionate about modern technologies, freehand drawing and skiing.
SOL@RES complex in Rzeszow
design: TKHolding
wodeon and wine inspirations
The jury of the Europe 40 under 40 list recognized three of the most interesting buildings under construction or already built according to projects on which Pawel Kobierzewski worked. The first is SOL@RES, a new sports and recreation complex with an aquapark in Rzeszow, long announced by the city authorities. Winy Maas of the MVRDV studio has his fingers in the project, and the plans - in addition to building the aquapark itself with a covered sandy beach and a "wodeon" - there is also the development of a nearly 30-hectare site on which the new building will stand, where the "Future Park" will be built. The unusual shape of the aquapark is the result of an analysis of the movement of the sun's disc across the sky, and its cascading ocher roof is an expression of inspiration from the fields of the nearby Łany Vineyard.
Elementary School No. 17 in Ruda Śląska
proj.: TKHolding
A school that is not afraid of mining damage
The second building that caught the eye of the jury of the Europe 40 under 40 list is the new Elementary School No. 17 in Ruda Śląska. In its place for several decades stood a dilapidated thousand-year-old school - unfortunately, due to extensive mining damage in the area, its condition has been getting worse in recent years, and the construction of a new facility became a necessity. Difficult terrain conditions became the impetus for giving the new school an unusual form - for the elementary school in Ruda Slaska was built not as a compact block, like the earlier thousand-year-old school, but in the form of a complex of interconnected pavilions, which together create a diverse and friendly educational environment.
Water Park in Stalowa Wola
proj.: TKHolding
contemporary architecture with an ancient spirit
TKHolding is a studio that has exceptionally extensive experience in creating recreational spaces. It comes as no surprise, then, that yet another project on which Pawel Kobierewski is working, appreciated by the jury of the Europe 40 under 40 list, is the Water Park in Stalowa Wola:
The concept draws on the idea of ancient thermal baths - places where bathing, movement, reflection and contact with art formed a single whole - but interprets this model in a modern way, with respect for the city's modernist heritage and the surrounding nature. The project organizes the relationship between the site, greenery and pedestrian and bicycle traffic, creating a recreational and sports ecosystem instead of a single building.
Elementary School No. 17 in Ruda Śląska
proj.: TKHolding
polish architects on the 40 under 40 list
An important context for Pawel Kobierzewski's architectural activity is his international collaborations - including with Winy Maas on the SOL@RES park, and with the Kengo Kuma and Associates studio during the development of the design for the new Library in Rzeszow, as well as local activities:
A separate but very significant thread is the LADNIE Foundation, of which Pawel Kobierzewski is one of the founders. The foundation is dedicated to improving public awareness of architecture and urbanism and building greater appreciation of the architectural profession as an important part of everyday culture. Among the funders of LADNIE are also Andrzej Truszczyński and Maciej Franta, who were also among the winners of the Europe 40 Under 40 program. Thus, three funders of one social-architectural initiative have been recognized in one of the most recognizable programs for young European artists.
Pawel Kobierzewski is already the second architect from the TKHolding studio to be included in the prestigious Europe 40 Under 40 list - in 2021 the honor went to Andrzej Truszczyński. Together they are part of a growing group of Polish designers listed among the best young architects in Europe, along with Robert Konieczny, Maciej Franta or Tomasz Konior.
