Thanks for 2023 from “Architecture Snob”
Before work begins on the first edition of “Architecture Snob” in 2024, I would like to thank you very much for the past year. Your presence – as guests and interview guests, partners of the magazine thanks to whom we can publish it in paper form, and people who have supported this project from the beginning – fills me with great gratitude and faith that what we do makes sense and makes a real contribution to popularizing the discourse on sustainable and empathetic architecture – and not only in the architectural community,architects, designers.
I am also glad that together we can popularize Polish projects and ideas abroad. The past year was full of promotional activities for the magazine in various places in Europe, which was one of the main goals of the periodical from the very beginning. After Berlin and Barcelona, ”Architecture Snob” debuted in Paris and Madrid. We prepared special events where we presented the magazine to a wide audience. The fifth edition of our campaign “Architects play for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity” ended in February. In 2023, we collected over PLN 72,000 to help people suffering from sepsis. The amount collected during all five editions of the campaign has already exceeded PLN 400,000.
We also took our activities to new spaces – in 2023, the first edition of the Curated Costume Party took place, the report from which can be found on our website. We started cooperation with Wise Habit Concept Store in Warsaw, where we held discussions about architecture and design under the name “ArchiSnob Talks”.
In 2023, three editions of the magazine premiered, with the following slogans:courage, luxury and care and attention in architecture. I am glad that we can conduct substantive conversations with experts in their field and give voice to people who prove every day that we have the power to transform reality for the better.
As an editorial office, we also have our own contributions to changing reality. “Architecture Snob” is not only a platform for conversations, but also a utility item that is created in cooperation with talentedgraphic designers. From the very beginning, in a sustainable manner, which was appreciated with another (second) nomination for the “Responsible Business in Poland” report, as the only magazine – thank you very much! This is a great honor for us, and at the same time a reminder that today you simply cannot be an irresponsible entrepreneur.
#5 – COURAGE
The motto of this issue was courage, perceived as constantly crossing the boundaries of existing thinking – one that refers to changing reality for the better, not only in architecture, but also in every other field of our lives – individual and collective. He was the cover heroDider Faustino – which has been proving for years that architecture should cross borders – not be art for its own sake, but also use the achievements of philosophy, sociology, biology and other fields that significantly broaden the perspective.
People invited to this issue of the magazine also prove that courage makes sense. Thank you very much for accepting the invitation to talks and columns:Andres Jacque, Eva Franch, Ivan Blasi, Szymon Wojciechowski, Michał Leszczyński, Paulina Grabowska, JurekŁątka, people from the DEMiURG office, the creators of the start-up UKOI, Katarzyna Jaroszyńska, Olga Kisiel Konopka, Ada Gruszka, Alicja Knast and others.
Although initially, as individuals, we may feel like there is little we can do, the power of visionary thinking is so compelling that it draws others to us. And this shortens the arduous path to real positive changes. Respect for natural resources, greater circularity, offering unique experiences, delightful forms, locality, building communities – these are just the first examples.
#6 – LUXURY
The theme of this issue of “Architecture Snob” was luxury. Together with the invited people, we wondered what it is today and whether luxury and expensive items still lie behind this word. Considering the specific times we live in, partnership cooperation seems to be a luxury. Heroescover this issue are two Polish studios that are best known for their designs of sophisticated, luxurious interiors. Poznańskamode:lina and WarsawNOKE Architects they value good relationships over individual success. Hand in hand, they prove that friendship in the world of architecture is possible, and the exchange of knowledge and mutual support are crucial for better design – sustainable and improving the quality of life for all of us.
We talked about the condition of domestic design withDorota Koziara – designer of luxury brands and architecture critic, who seems to me to be a precursor of Polish success stories abroad. In the interview, we learned about the beginnings of her cooperation with Atelier Mendini and her activities to promote Polish talents around the world. We also learned the story in this issueZofia Jaworska, Petro Vladimirov and Michał Sikorski, i.e. the people behind the project that was awarded at this year’s London Design Biennale. The goal of their OKNO project is to provide second-cycle windows to the most needy regions of rebuilding Ukraine. She shared about invisible luxury – i.e. privileges in public space – and sharing it with others withprof. PippaCatterall.
While working on this issue, it turned out that there are as many definitions of luxury as there are people. Thank you for accepting the invitation to talks and columns:Szymon Wojciechowski, Marta Urbańska, Monika Staniec, Mirosław Jaroszewicz, MichałCimek, Marcin Oleszczuk, people from Brola Bukowska and Wise Habit, Łukasz Mazolewski, PiotrCzajkowski and others.
#7 – CARE AND ATTENTION
The main theme of the seventh issue of “Architecture Snob” is care and mindfulness in architecture – concepts understood as responsibility for one’s own actions and conscious planning of them, taking into account many contexts: ecological, social, ethical, aesthetic and pragmatic. The cover hero of this issue,Alejandro Aravena, is a perfect example of a caring and attentive architect – one of the leaders of change in architecture. His presence in the magazine was very important. If it weren’t for him, there would be no “Architecture Snob”, and the magazine itself would not be created with such care and attention.
Personal definitions of the main slogans of this issue of the magazine were also presented by a group of distinguished people, including:Marta A. Urbańska, Szymon Wojciechowski, Kamil Domachowski, Marta Federowicz-Boule and Anna Fedorowicz, Pascale Dalix and Frédérico Chartier, Małgorzata Turek and Natalia Paszkowska, Michał Laszczkowski, Michał Krasucki, Piotr Kalinowski, Sylwia Szcześniak and Kamil Jędrasik, Cezary Lisowski, Oskar Sadowski, Zbigniew Szczepański and others.
Finally, I would like to thank our partners who make running a paper magazine possible. In 2023, we were supported by, among others:Tubądzin, Porsche, Paradyż, The Clinic, Invest Komfort, Lena Lighting, Cosentino, Palermo Boutique Events, Va bene Cicchetti, YAK Living Space Experience, FJORDD, Rave and Fleurs, Acqua di Parma, Quantum Fitness, Kontakt Simon,Aqua OfPharma, Acustio, Geberit, Cosentino, Humanscale, JUNG, Kontakt Simon, Balmain Hair, dyson, GARMIN, OMNIRES, Echo Investment, National Library, Domoteka,National Institute for the Conservation of Monuments, National Library in Warsaw.
Although it is difficult to be optimistic in the face of ongoing climate change and the geopolitical situation, I deeply believe that we should not give up in this fight. Publishing the magazine itself is not easy either, due to the constantly increasing printing costs – but we do not lose hope in continuing our business.
In 2024, we wish you determination and effectiveness in striving for a better future for all of us.
Marcin Szczelina
red. nacz. „Architecture Snob”