Aleksandra Boszke and Natasza Stężycka from the Gdansk University of Technology, were among the ten best teams in the world in the prestigious Architecture Student Contest 2025 organized by Saint-Gobain. Under the supervision of dry Agnieszka Kurkowska , they created the project "PIECE BY PIECE. Piece by Piece - according to nature", which was appreciated by the international Jury.
"Piece by Piece. Piece by Piece - according to nature"
© Aleksandra Boszke, Natasha Stężycka
about the anniversary edition of the competition
This year's 20th edition of the Architecture Student Contest had a special anniversary character. It was held in France - in the Nord-Isère region, in the immediate vicinity of Lyon. This is not a coincidence - it is the birthplace of the Saint-Gobain Group, which celebrates its 360th anniversary in 2025.
More than 200 universities from 33 countries participated in the competition. Students were tasked with designing two buildings:
-
a new residential building for students and faculty in the Les Grands Ateliers neighborhood,
-
the revitalization of an abandoned school in the village of Chimilin - to be used as a social center for local initiatives.
All projects had to meet exacting sustainability criteria - from CO₂ emissions and energy efficiency to impact on the local community and user/user comfort.
Competition winners - TOP 3
1st place - France: "From Knowledge to Making".
The team from France consisting of Mathieu Maupas, Léo Grebot and Lucas Safaure (supervisor: Dominique Lefaivre) won thanks to its impressive architectural and ideological coherence. The project innovatively combined education with action - using mobile workshops, local materials and modular stages of implementation. The jury particularly appreciated the subtle fusion of the designed sites with the landscape and the strong rootedness in local culture.
1st place, From Knowledge to Making.
© Saint-Gobain
Second place, Estonia: "Sense of Community"
The Estonian team consisting of Andra Palla, Elise-Irene Lensment, Mari Liis Aader (mentor: Jaan Kuusemets) presented a project characterized by harmony and peace. The jury paid attention to: the skillful combination of new and recycled materials, the elegance of the living spaces, and the accurate calculation of the carbon footprint for the various solutions. The whole reflected the slogan "sense of community," the heart of the concept.
Second place, Sense of Community.
© Saint-Gobain
Third place - China: "Energy Anchor"
The Chinese team - Qingyun Xu, Xiaochen Jing, Xuechun Wang (supervisor: Deng Feng) - surprised the Jury with its strong social commitment and bold vision. The project was based on symbolic energy towers that simultaneously generate energy and integrate the community. The innovative, modular structure and low carbon footprint also made the project stand out.
other special awards
Student Award - Romania: "Yellow"
The project by the team of Victoria Cravcenco, Mara Ioana Craiu, Ancuța-Larisa-Mihaela Petrescu (supervisor: Catalina Bocan) won praise from the students for its cohesive structure and bold use of the historical motif of the color yellow. The creative approach to landscape and local architecture was also recognized.
Professors Award - Colombia: "Emboîté Nomad."
The team of Felipe Gallego and Valentina Agudelo Velez (supervisor: Lucas Arango) created a project based on bioclimatic analysis and seasonal adaptation of space. The jury singled out the human dimension of the project and its deep embedding in the context of climate change.
The Jury included experts from many fields: architects, urban planners, representatives of industry organizations, politicians and scientists - including Alicja Kuczera of the Polish Green Building Council and Carl Bäckstrand of White Arkitekter. The evaluation of the projects was multifaceted: from functionality to the full life cycle of the buildings and their impact on the environment.
