“An Introduction to Poznań: A Guide to the Heart of the City” is a project by Asia Lip, born out of a heartfelt desire to tell the city’s story in a more thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing way than in traditional publications. This interactive guide to Poznań, created entirely by women, runs to almost 500 pages and tells the story of a city hidden within its tenement houses, courtyards and details.
It is not a collection of quick recommendations or a list of ‘must-see’ places. Instead, a carefully crafted urban narrative has been created, in which architecture serves as the starting point for a story about the city’s identity. Alongside the most recognisable spaces in the city centre, the guide features tenement houses, alleyways, courtyards, façades, details and less obvious places that together shape the character of Poznań.
FROM URBAN PASSION TO A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT
The initiator of the project is Asia Lip, a PTTK city guide in Poznań, known for her @poznanska_kamienica profile, where she has been showcasing buildings, architectural details and their stories for years. In 2020, she met Jagoda Jankowska, a graphic designer and illustrator, now responsible for the visual identity of the Mood Scent Bar brand. Their shared passion for the city, architecture, history and storytelling quickly evolved into the idea of creating a modern compendium of knowledge about Poznań.
At the start, one key person was still missing: a photographer. Many people responded to Asia and Jagoda’s post on Instagram, but it was with Justyna Śmidowicz that they immediately found a common language and shared visual sensibility. The girls met for the first time on Fat Thursday 2021, and over the following years they roamed the city together in search of shots, material and stories that could build a multi-layered narrative about Poznań.
By 2024, the texts and photographs were ready. It was then, by a stroke of luck, that Asia met Marika Krystman, who took on the task of editing the text. Other people from the initiators’ circle of friends also joined the project: proofreaders Ela Woźniak and Julita Paprotna, as well as Sylwia Mosińska, who was responsible for the layout of the publication.
A PROJECT THAT DEFIES THE CANONS OF A GUIDEBOOK
Although work on the guide was completed in 2025, it took some time before the project saw the light of day. The reason? From the outset, its form defied standard publishing conventions.
A risky concept, a niche subject and the guide’s substantial length deterred potential publishers from getting involved. However, the team decided not to abandon their original plans and to remain true to their vision. Ultimately, the creators decided to self-publish the guide in electronic form.
This solution proved not only practical but also very consistent with the very idea of the project. The digital format allowed the publication’s aesthetic to be preserved, whilst also creating a tool that is convenient to use whilst walking around the city.
POZNAŃ TOLD THROUGH ARCHITECTURE
“An Introduction to Poznań” was not conceived as a traditional tourist guide. Rather, it is an attempt to showcase the city through its structure, rhythm and details – that is, through what often goes unnoticed in everyday life, yet simultaneously contributes to the atmosphere of Poznań.
The publication features both the city centre’s most iconic spaces and tenement houses, courtyards, alleyways and less obvious spots. This allows the reader to explore not just the most famous landmarks, but to experience the city in a more organic and conscious way.
The creators of the guide focus not only on the history of the buildings, but also on their less visible elements, the transformations they have undergone, and the urban context, deeply rooted in the city’s complex past. It is precisely this attentiveness that makes the project appealing to both residents and those visiting Poznań for the first time.
Archival materials, photographs, old views and sources are also an essential part of this narrative, allowing us to capture how specific streets, squares, façades and other parts of the urban fabric have changed. This juxtaposition of contemporary photographs with their historical context means that the guide serves not only as a tool for exploring the here and now, but also as a form of urban document and visual archive.
A GUIDE TO USE ON THE GO
The strength of the project lies not only in its content, but also in its form. The guide has been designed as a modern, interactive tool, tailored to the contemporary way of exploring the city.
Instead of a heavy paper publication, the user receives a solution that can be used on the move, whilst walking, stopping to admire a façade or planning their own route. The project combines detailed descriptions with photographic material, a clear route structure, links to Google Maps, and archival photographs and source materials.
This is particularly important today, when we increasingly expect guides to offer not only knowledge, but also intuitiveness, good storytelling and an attractive visual presentation.
THE CITY THROUGH WOMEN’S EYES
This interactive guide to Poznań is part of a growing trend towards conscious city exploration, moving away from the rush to ‘tick off attractions’ in favour of a more personal experience rooted in the local context.
A new perspective, stepping off the beaten track and the opportunity to experience the city in a more personal way are the most valuable aspects of “An Introduction to Poznań”. The project combines the promotion of architecture, urban education and contemporary functional design in a practical, aesthetically refined form.
More information: https://poznanskakamienica.pl
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