Mariusz Twardowski

Modern stadiums constitute a challenge to urban planning, architects and buildings. The exceptional character of these enormous structures is, on the one hand, highlighted by their unique massings and the innovative materials that they employ, while on the other, their composition within the space of the city and its skilful blending into its context causes them to become icons and landmarks. Three different examples demonstrate that the requirements presented above can be fulfilled. Modern forms have been fitted into the scale of cities of various size and adapted to their surroundings. Functional solutions were well-thought out and circulation and access have been placed so that events would not block traffic in the city each time they are held.

Smart projects enter the surrounding reality. Increasingly bolder and more modern solutions support human life, make us live in an increasingly ecological world, create a bridge between physical life and virtual elements. One of the attempts to adjust the area to the modern world is the concept of development of the area around the water reservoir in Krakow. In the premise, the space here has become a modern leisure platform – a solution that will combine real rest with the unreal but already existing world of modern technology. It will be environmentally safe, balanced ecologically and materials used in the project will be in harmony with nature. Due to the fact that the project is currently in progress before the construction phase, there is no certainty that such an experiment will succeed or whether the investor will have enough energy and funds to implement the above assumptions, whether issuing water permits office and environmental determinations do not profess solutions in other than expected by the designer and investor direction. However, it is worthwhile to take a closer look at the proposed solutions.

Residential towers undeniably changed the reality that surrounds us. Vertical structures have influenced the landscape of cities by shaping new, previously unknown panoramas. Infinite peripheries were split and reassembled again in the vertical form. Is it possible to create a comfortable living space in a small area? Can residential towers fit into a fully fledged and well-functioning urban structure? Problematic aspects of this scenario are discussed on the basis of the most representative example in the world, which is Manhattan, located in New York City. Analysis of the urban structure of specific districts and examples of residential towers enables the presentation of the differences, advantages and disadvantages resulting from a specific given forms of architecture and urban planning.

Niemeyer's extraordinary ability to present his projects with one line comes from the inspiration of the landscape, the hills surrounding Copacabana Beach, and the female body. Sketching since he was younger, the architect has improved his line so much that one line was enough to explain the whole project. One of the realizations built with one line was the Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo, opened in 1954. The buildings created there, showed a glimpse of Sugarloaf Mountain, women and their curvilinear forms.

Since architecture accompanied people, water has a serious impact on its character. Apart from engineering buildings, in which water is the main actor, in many cases it is an extraordinary supplement to a building, which would often not have such power without it. Thanks to water buildings often become works of art. It emphasizes uniqueness, creates, often with light and shadow, the mystery of the building. There are many examples in South America that support this thesis. We find buildings based on a similar principles in Europe. It should not be forgotten that most of the examples were designed together with greenery, sometimes being in the middle of a green garden, another time the greenery interfuse with the interior. All of them can be an inspiration for a building designed in Kra­kow by MTWW Architekci. Water emphasizes architecture by reflections. Greenery appears in the interior as well as outside, making users surrounded by nature the whole way through.

Santorini is a surprising place. Tourists attracted to the island want to spend their holidays here. But people don’t expect to find here examples of modern architecture. In oposition to many great cities in the world, the history of the island is not based on wars, economic growth or political decisions but on volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. In such dangerous geo-climate, due to the influence of natural conditions and poverty, extraordinary buildings were created. They have become extremely modern and timeless. Author considers the architectural elements of buildings on the island, which lead to the above mentioned conclusions. It is impossible to find here architecture of Modernism but architetecture of simplicity, rationality, modernity and eternity.

Ski jumping hills are costly structures meant for a small group, whose struggles are being watched by thousands of spectators. Towards the end of the twentieth century it was observed that ski jumping hills had been dominated by their function. The first structure that broke away from this convention was the Bergisel ski jumping hill. A completely new aesthetic, introducing spectators to the top of the ski jumping hill outside of competitions so that they could feel like the ski jumpers themselves, as well as a variety of accompanying functions, made this example a model solution for successive projects. As these structures are being adapted to the changing security and safety needs imposed by the FIS, as well as the increasing distances that ski jumpers can travel in the air, additional ski jumping hills were being remodelled. Some of the later, extraordinarily successful solutions include the Olympic ski jumping hill in GarmischPartenkirchen and Holmenkollenbakken in Oslo. In both cases modernisations were selected on the basis of architectural competitions. Have ski jumping hills become safe for jumpers? How have technological solutions changed and how friendly are they to the environment? In what manner have smart solutions been introduced into the use of these structures? How has the aesthetic of these structures changed? By analysing three of the aforementioned examples of sports facilities, the author searches for the answer to the questions above.

The diversity of architectural designs is increasingly becoming a pretext for exploring further spatial solutions. Architects are outraged in the sketching of buildings, which by the use of the sun become more and more three-dimensional and spatial. Light plays a special role here. Daylight first of all. It makes the architect gain a multi-layer effect in the perception of solids from the outside and inside spaces. For many of us, projects such masters as Tadao Ando are the inspiration for the use of light. Others look at the three dimensions of Steven Holl or Morphosis buildings. Two local examples of the quest for depth, use of light or play with shadow and planes is the reception building, designed in Cracow and the church in Wroclaw. In the case of a building in Cracow, the hybrid function of two contradictory elements seems to be a pretext for unusual solutions not only functional but spatial, where light, shadow, reflections, reflections and green play the main role. The church in Wroclaw also follows the play of light and shadow by building spaces of dignity, humility and prayer.