Community architecture

Until quite recently, institutional architecture was viewed mainly as infrastructure designed to fulfill specific functions. The resulting spaces were adequate but lacked ambition. Sometimes the opposite happened - buildings became manifestos of their era and of the state’s aspirations. Yet, in both approaches, the most important aspect was overlooked: the everyday experience of the users. Only now is a third perspective becoming more visible, one in which architecture is understood as a space of relationships - not only organizing functions, but also building community.

The Warsaw studio Projekt Praga has been demonstrating for years that dormitories, University faculties, and other public buildings can be much more than just functional structures. In their projects, the focus is always on people - their daily experience of space and the relationships architecture can support. A symbolic example of this shift is the Student House No. 7 at the University of Warsaw, a building that quickly became one of the most interesting new dormitories in Poland, earning numerous architectural awards and widespread recognition. The architects applied a similar approach in their second project for the University of Warsaw: the new Faculty of Psychology building on the Ochota campus.
“It seems to me that a lot has changed, though it was a process - an evolution. With each public investment, institutions become more aware. Whether it’s a school or a municipal office, people now observe what happens around them, are more conscious of their needs, and realize they can have expectations regarding space. In the past, the emphasis was on function and optimization: a simple functional program, a defined budget. Today, the client’s brief includes not just functions but also the users’ needs developed through dialogue with them,” says Karolina Tunajek.
“The way buildings and spaces are used has also changed. There’s a stronger focus on comfort and wellbeing,” adds Marcin Garbacki.

When designing the new student dormitory for the University of Warsaw, the architects wanted to break away from the typical anonymous corridor lined with identical doors. Instead, they created a building where shared spaces play the central role - places for meeting, talking, and everyday life.
“The community was what mattered most to us. Every such building, whether a dormitory or a psychology faculty, is a sort of community with its own group identity. Creating a proper space for that community supports the relationships that sustain it,” says Marcin.
“These shared spaces occupy a lot of area and come in a rich variety. At the Faculty of Psychology, for example, there are livelier, open meeting spots where more people can gather, or sit in a lobby overlooking greenery. The building includes both open social areas and intimate places for individual work. This diversity responds to user needs and supports their daily functioning,” adds Karolina.

This idea of community, however, stems not only from the building’s functional program but also from deliberate design choices. One of these was the emphasis on durable, high‑quality materials.
“The University, which owns an extensive real‑estate portfolio, is well aware of maintenance costs. We discussed at length how to find solutions that would fit the budget without requiring constant repairs. That’s why the building features many exposed materials like architectural concrete, which serves as the final wall finish and withstands intensive use,” explains Karolina.

The architects chose durable, simple materials that age well. In shared areas, they used latrico tiles - affordable, refined, and resistant to wear. In the dormitory, repeatable elements were important as well, making future repairs easier. The designers emphasize that the quality of architecture depends not only on materials but also on design approach and consideration for users. A key priority was adapting the buildings to different needs through solutions that improve orientation, reduce sensory overload, and support everyday comfort.
“Both inclusivity and energy efficiency were part of the competition guidelines, but we wanted to creatively expand them and apply them throughout the project. Accessibility was addressed more broadly than formal requirements, in cooperation with the Office for Persons with Disabilities at the University of Warsaw,” adds Marcin.

Equally important was the spatial layout. In both the Faculty of Psychology and the dormitory, users intuitively understand where they are and where they need to go upon entering. Clear circulation, a visible reception desk, and building maps help prevent confusion and make the space more welcoming.
“Design decisions such as color schemes, lighting, and acoustics play a major role. Where concentration is needed, calmer colors and shading options appear; in social areas, livelier accents. We also focused on everyday details. In both buildings, we avoided high bar stools and elevated tables, and in the kitchens we designed countertop segments at lower heights so people who use wheelchairs can access them,” says Karolina.

Another crucial aspect of both projects was the buildings’ relationship with their surroundings. The architects note that modern university campuses are increasingly less like closed, isolated enclaves. They are becoming part of the urban fabric, serving not just students and staff but also local residents.

“The University of Warsaw is very conscious of its presence in the city. Campuses shouldn’t be islands cut off from their surroundings, so we aimed to design buildings that naturally interact with public space,” says Karolina Tunajek.

Thanks to these solutions, university architecture ceases to be merely academic infrastructure. It becomes part of everyday urban life - a space for relationships, encounters, work, and rest, shared by more than just the student body.