Sink or saor, summary of the year 2022 in architecture (Part V)

09 of January '23

Marta Sękulska-Wrońska

The end of December—because that's when we finished preparing the January issue—is the best time for all kinds of summaries. And like every year, we ask practitioners and architecture critics to write what they consider a success and what they consider a failure in a given year. We do it in the convention of Sink or Soar. We give our Authors total freedom of expression and do not moderate this discussion. Rather, we are very curious about it.

Previous episodes of the series featured:

Marta Sękulska-Wrońska in Hits and Kits 2022 from A&B 01|2023 issue.

By far the worst event that has befallen us in the past year is the war in Ukraine, in the face of it all other problems recede into the background. In the face of the enormity of violence and suffering, we all look for those single glimmers of hope—a helping hand and a touch of the heart that reminds us of our humanity. If I had to list what pleased me most as an architect in these cloudy times, it would be our community's solidarity and exemplary attitude: we opened our studios to our colleagues from Ukraine, and SARP's spaces to the youngest, organizing workshops in cooperation with the Polish Center for International Aid. At the Zamoyski Palace, we also welcomed an architect who has dedicated a significant part of his professional practice to humanitarian aid, and the conference „Shigeru Ban and Architecture for Refugees” became an extraordinary platform for sharing knowledge and motivation. Architecture originated from the primal human need for security and a roof over our heads. The trial period showed us that the ethos of the architect is still alive. I would like us to learn a lesson from these experiences and carry these values not only in such extreme moments, but be able to be better for each other every day as well.