Sustainability in architecture of Zbigniew Abrahamowicz

Abstract

Architect Zbigniew Abrahamowicz (1938-1990) is crucial figure for post war history of architecture in Polish city of Szczecin. However, his realized body of work is significant and spans from single family houses through public spaces to larger public buildings like churches and amphitheater it was not studied enough and not only in my opinion it needs thorough and systematical analysis. His buildings draw from modernist ideas and vocabulary but are rooted in local tradition and thus always context friendly. Love of nature is clear in his design approach. Abrahamowicz was outstandingly prolific architect and there is a lot of built evidence of his activity but as he never spoke or wrote about his ideas and work, it lacks theoretical reflection. Almost 30 years after his passing it is applicable to study his heritage and draw conclusions from it. Paper presents tracing of sustainable aspect in Zbigniew Abrahamowicz built work through analysis of design ethos, contexts, forms (compactness of volumes, elevations openings ratio), building techniques, materials used and new uses and alterations introduced. Methodology applied was defined by available materials: research based on archival query (original design drawings, texts on Abrahamowicz architecture published in local newspapers and countrywide magazines), interviews (with his friends and co-workers), analysis of plans and elevations of his buildings, interpretation of gathered material. To conclude, there is at least two general ways of understanding sustainability: one is about keeping ecological equilibrium and the other is about continuity. In times of Abrahamowicz professional activity (1965-1990) term ‘sustainability’ was not present in architectural discourse in Poland but we can find the notion of continuity in any of his work. His houses and especially public buildings are still serving its purposes, some of them are upgraded and, what is perhaps more important, are popular and loved by people of Szczecin.