“t.bs – tu. blisko swoich” is a graduation project by Martyna Chudalewska, an architecture student at Wrocław University of Technology. A multi-family building of her design could be built on Rychtalska Street in Wrocław. Martyna Chudalewska prepared her project with the substantive support of Łukasz Wojciechowski, Ph.
Poland is facing a growing housing shortage, and Wrocław in particular is feeling the pressure of rising property prices. The average price per square metre in the city is already around PLN 11 200, while in prestigious housing estates such as Zacisze it exceeds PLN 14 000. With the median gross salary in Poland at PLN 6 900, an average person would have to put aside almost 11 years of their entire net earnings to buy a flat of a standard size. In the rental market, households with the lowest incomes spend 20-40% of their income on rent, while in many European Union countries this indicator does not exceed 20%.
Tenant-friendly architecture
In response to these challenges, the “t.bs – tu. close to your own” project by Martyna Chudalewska was created. Developed under the Social Housing Association formula, the building on Rychtalska Street in Wrocław is proof that social housing can combine affordability with high-quality architecture. The project rises directly on the banks of the Old Oder River, adjacent to the historic grain elevator, whose industrial silhouette has been treated as the landscape dominant of the entire complex.
Community-friendly space
The building has 38 flats of varying sizes and layouts, ranging from compact studios to spacious family units. Each flat has access to a balcony, loggia or private garden, and the carefully designed interiors ensure optimal light and comfort of daily use. The building is complemented by an extensive common infrastructure: a bicycle room, laundry room, pram room, neighbourhood common room and a bakery located in the ground floor of the building. In this way, the residents find in the new development an almost self-sufficient environment conducive to building local bonds.
The central accent of the project is the green atrium, which includes a playground and relaxation areas. On the roof of the building, a public recreation space with a panoramic view of the Oder River was designed as a natural extension of the city park. The ‘here. close to your own’ concept emphasises neighbourly relations and community sustainability, placing the well-being of residents above the maximum use of each plot.
Respect for context and nature
The low, horizontal form of the building has been adapted to the scale of the neighbourhood development so as not to compete with the historic elevator. In-depth landscape and environmental analyses have preserved most of the existing trees, minimising interference with the natural greenery. As a result, ‘t.bs – tu. close to its own’ fits into the urban fabric as a friendly backdrop to the neighbouring monuments.
The project meets the principles of sustainable development through the use of green roofs on more than 70 per cent of the surface and rainwater retention systems. An infrastructure for renewable energy sources has also been prepared, which will lower operating costs and reduce the carbon footprint. Martyna Chudalewska was inspired by local developments such as New Żerniki and European examples of community housing: Byker Estate in Newcastle, Malminkartano in Helsinki or La Mémé in Brussels. What they all have in common is the conviction that the right to housing is not a luxury, but the foundation of social equality.
Architecture as a tool for change
At a time when real estate is increasingly playing the role of investment commodity, ‘t.bs – here. close to your own’ reminds us that architecture should serve the residents and the building of just cities. Martyna Chudalewska proves that designing for accessibility and community can become a force for real social change.
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About the author:
Martyna Chudalewska – a student at the Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Technology. In her projects she focuses on a socially responsible approach to architecture, paying attention to the context and everyday needs of users. She is interested in the topics of accessible housing, participatory design and the impact of space on the well-being of residents.
design: Martyna Chudalewska
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