Saint-Gobain in Poland is a strategic partner of the educational series "Archisens. Conversations about architecture

12 of March '26

Saint-Gobain in Poland is a strategic partner of the educational series "Archisens. Conversations about architecture

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As part of the series "Archisens. Conversations on Architecture" published on YouTube and Spotify, invited architects and industry experts share their experience and discuss the challenges of contemporary design - from new competencies and technologies to environmental or social responsibility. The premiere of the third episode titled. "Where there was no architect" today, March 19, at 7:00 pm! The special guest will be arch. Maciej Pertkiewicz known, among others, from the program "Our New Home".

The host of the podcast is Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys - architect, former President of SARP (2022-2024), currently Chief Operating Officer and Board Member of UN Global Compact Network Poland, engaged in dialogue about responsible design, climate transformation and education.

Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys

The "Archisens" project is a series of 12 inspiring encounters that show how architecture - though material - affects us in a deeply social and emotional way: it shapes comfort, health, relationships and quality of life. The partnership of the Saint-Gobain Group in Poland - a leader in sustainable materials and solutions for the building industry - fits naturally with the series' mission by promoting a conscious approach to space design and broadening perspectives in the discussion of the challenges of modern cities and facilities.

Architecture is not just about buildings, but more importantly about the quality of the space we live in. Contemporary design requires a holistic approach, innovation and environmental responsibility. That's why it's so important to speak openly about the challenges and trends that are shaping the architectural profession today. As a strategic partner of the series, we are proud to support a project that educates, inspires and opens dialogue with a wide audience," stresses Michal Ciesielski, director of brand, communications and strategic marketing for the Saint-Gobain Group inPoland and Ukraine.

Episode 1: "Architecture is more than buildings" (January 22, 2026)

In the premiere episode, Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys spoke with arch. Przem Lukasik, co-founder of the Medusa Group studio. This meeting shows architecture as a multidisciplinary activity - a "jigsaw puzzle" in which function, context, aesthetics, regulations and users' needs must be combined into a coherent whole. As the guest of the podcast says, architecture is largely "problem solving," and contemporary practice requires not only a solid workshop, but also the ability to clearly formulate goals and dialogue with stakeholders.

Przemo Lukasik

The conversation also brings up an important perspective on creative work: failures - understood as projects that have not been realized or lost competitions - can sometimes be as valuable, and sometimes even more useful, for architects than awards, because they trigger reflection and influence development. This attentiveness also translates into the topic of responsibility in design practice. The interviewees return to the idea of a "second life" for buildings and materials - seeing the potential in existing fabric, adaptation and reducing waste.

I myself have signed a petition to mobilize us all (...). I know that some people think we are under-read, we are irresponsible in our actions. The truth is, I think, a little more complex," states Przemo Lukasik, to add later in the conversation: - Architects themselves can do a lot, but certainly not everything.

Episode 2: "A small man in a big space" (February 19, 2026)

The second episode of the series is devoted to the design of nurseries and kindergartens from the perspective of the needs of the youngest. Arch. Dorota Sibinska, co-owner of XYstudio, emphasizes the role of emotional memory and senses in shaping safe, supportive spaces: daylight, microclimate and acoustics. A concrete, practical design principle falls in the conversation:

Children must see the sky (...)," Dorota Sibinska emphasizes. - I'm heartbroken when I see a nursery that has window sills at a height of 90 cm, and the child is 80 cm tall and can't see anything, he only sees a radiator. Well, so I design everything together with my co-workers - with Filip, and with Marta - from the floor level.

Dorota Sibinska

Guestcini also points out the need to balance stimuli (color, contrast, neurodiversity) and the importance of acoustics - for the comfort of children and the work of teachers.

The episode also features an important social theme: architecture as a tool for real support for people in crisis of homelessness - design that fosters dignity, relationships and inclusion.

Solutions that support responsible design

Creating healthy and comfortable spaces is a theme close to Saint-Gobain. The Group's solutions help design buildings with good acoustics, adequate thermal insulation, increased access to daylight, clean air and a comfortable microclimate - in other words, they directly address the needs discussed by participants in the "Archisens" series.

Episodes are published periodically on YouTube and Spotify, as well as on the partner's website: https://www.saint-gobain.pl/archisens-rozmowy-o-architekturze. The next premiere will take place on March 19 at 19:00 - the episode titled. "Where there was no architect". Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys' guest will be arch. Maciej Pertkiewicz (Interior House studio) known, among other things, from the program "Our New Home", in which he and his team have been supporting families for years, improving the conditions and safety of buildings in need of urgent renovations. The talk will focus on the challenges of modernizing buildings that are often built without the involvement of specialists, and how conscious design can make a real difference to the health and quality of life of residents.