double HOUSE
single family house in Gdansk for private investors, MAKA STUDIO concept design
July-August 2020
supervisor: arch. Wiktor Kurc
This house design faced a few challenges as the plot had the main access from the south. Therefore, there was a risk of compromising privacy with the idea of a living room with big windows facing the south that appealed to the investors. On top of that, the owners wanted to keep their distance from the neighbours on the west side. My solution was the house split into two parts, so the living and access areas were noticeably divided and not interfering with each other The main living area was located on the east as well as the master bedroom according to the request of the investors.
While working on this concept, I was responsible for developing the idea and form of the building supervised by the owner of the office. I also created the layouts having regard to guidelines and remarks of the investors. The render and schemes seen on the side were prepared by me as well.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
splitting in two the average house with pitched roof and ridgepole perpendicular to the street
shifting the two parts to create two separate blocks aligned with adjacent houses
pulling forward the wall and roof outline to ensure more privacy
HOTEL academic
6th-7th semester final project, Gdansk Univeristy of Technology concept design with building phase elements
March - December 2019
supervisor: dr inż. arch. Agnieszka Błażko
The plot is located in the very centre of Gdansk Wrzeszcz. The proximity of the Gdansk University of Technology campus on the south, historic 19th century residential mansions and social terraced houses create a highly defined background.
MANSIONS
- 3-4 high storeys
- mansard roofs, rusty, lost prestige
ABBEG'S COLONY - 2 low storeys
dense terraced residential
CAMPUS
big cubatures - varying forms, flat roofs
Division of the site into six parts corresponding to neighbouring mansions seemed natural according to the existing context. The next step was to place the functions. I decided to accommodate the hotel lobby on the south as it is the main function of the development. The residential part of the hotel was meant to be on the first and second floors. In the next module, the student canteen was located.
Another crucial element is the conference unit located on the ground floor. The last two parts were arranged as a water reservoir and a green square to preserve existing trees. There was also designed a vast underground car park to meet the needs of the whole campus users.
An essential element in the design process was also the Abbeg's Colony. I have decided to incorporate the angled direction of the houses. The northern part designated the south edge of the building, and the southern one - the direction of the path through the squares.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
SPECTRUM
SPECTRUM
awarded finalist mention published in article on "Architectura&Biznes" website group work for Detroit Waterfront District competition by YAC concept design, December 2020 collaboration: Barbara Kobusińska, Michał Komosiński
The competition brief asked to propose a new high-rise complex for the city of Detroit. The program covered a hotel, residential and commercial units, and a public square for the community. Our main inspiration for the design of the Detroit Waterfront District was sound, the sound spectrum to be precise. It came from two different sources. The first and more obvious one was the resemblance of the spectrum and Detroit’s skyline mirrored in the river. The second rose from our research about the city as Detroit’s history is strongly intertwined with music. It is the place where legendary Motown was born, there was also the setting of the famous movie “8 Mile”. The musical aspect is visible not only in the form of the building but also in the courtyard design where a stage for the local community was arranged. In the commercial area closest to the waterfront, we planned a social music centre offering education for talented Detroit residents and showcasing the history of the city.
The proposed skyscraper consists of dozens of green terraces on every level and a garden floor between the office units. They add aesthetic and functional value but also improve rainwater management, reduce the urban heat island effect and improve air quality. Other sustainable solutions that were incorporated are solar panels facing the south and steel construction.
AXONOMETRIC DIAGRAM - PROGRAM
My role in this project was research and idea development. Then together we were modelling the shape and form of the building. I proposed the openings and terraces resembling sound spectrum. In the final stages of the concept design, I was working on the function distribution and general site plan layout as well as the logo.
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
ARLES residence in
house renovation for private investors, ECDM Architectes obtaining the building permit, APD - PRO avant-projet définitif April-June 2021
supervisor: arch. Dominique Marrec
While doing my internship I was assigned to take over the project of restructuration of a 19th-century villa in the historic centre of Arles in the south of France. Previously the building was divided into three separate flats, which were bought by private investors. Their intention was to unify them and create a holiday home for the family with a ground floor for services and an exhibition area.
As the building is located in the historic city centre with a very characteristic and defined architectural character, no alterations were planned on the exterior, except for the necessary maintenance. The main aim of the project was to connect the many spaces of very different characters into a consistent system that functions well together. Thus, the imposing semicircular staircase was incorporated to facilitate convenient moving around between different floors. Another major intervention was to create accessible terraces on every floor, with a small swimming pool on the top. It refers to the local tradition of diverse rooftops and climate conditions.
The renovation task was quite challenging as the building had undergone many alterations throughout the years. It was crucial to carefully identify them and assess whether they should be maintained or removed. Since in many rooms there were still present traditional ceramic floor coverings and original doors, the goal was to restore and preserve them as much as possible to maintain the original character of the mansion.
from the side of Place Honoré Clair
My role in this project was preparing the drawings presented on the right side along with the sections, facades, and the photographical representation of the planned changes in the structure. This documentation was required to obtain the construction permit. I also drafted the electrical connections. Moreover, I was working on the interior design of selected rooms on the first floor as well as the exhibition space Les Rencontres d'Arles, an annual photography festival organised in Arles.
OVER-TIME archaeological site as palimpsest
3rd semester project, Politecnico di Milano concept design, September-December 2022 supervisor: arch. Fabrizia Berlingieri, PhD collaboration: Alex Rivellini, Miray Melisa Yörük
During the thematic seminar we could choose a site located in Italian region of Calabria and then choose a theme to guide the design process. We have chosen a picturesque archaeological site of ruined Roman villa called "Villa Romana di Larderia" with alluring preserved mosaics. The ruins are located by the Esaro Lake and close to the Farneto woods. Inspired by the superimposition of various layers shaped by both humans and nature we have decided on palimpsest as similarly to such piece on which later writing has been superimposed on earlier text, the location witnessed various eras and each left its mark on the context. The Over-Time design aims to integrate ancient relics with contemporary architecture, enhancing the connection between the archaeological site and the lake. It features an organic ramp for access, guided by the ancient modular grid and the surrounding agricultural fields, suggests a careful consideration of the site's natural features and historical influences, blurring boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. The main building is a translucent volume, interacting with the landscape and serving as an exhibition space for the archaeological relics. Its goal is to create an immersive experience where the landscape becomes an integral part of the museum journey.
Proposed new olive trees field activate the site for agriculture, preserving its original use. Decks over the coastline embrace the lake tides, fostering connectivity and respecting the environment. By proposing decks over the coast line, the lake tides are not seen as a limit but as a characteristic to work with, developing a walking and cycling link between Roggiano Gravina and Località Casello, thus involving also the waterdam in the soft mobility system.
SUPERIMPOSITION OF THE LANDMARKS
My role in this project was developing the concept and its execution together with my groupmates. I was working on the 3D model of our design as well as the 2D drawings, especially the sections and facades. Moreover, I was responsible for preparing the physical model visible on the following page.
archaeological site 0
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
superimposition of the archaeological site grid and the argicultural grid
main directions
visual promenade
FREDERIKSSUND maritime centre
second prize in public competition, Sweco Architects Denmark concept design, May 2023
collaboration: Bjørn Mogensen, Alvaro Garcia Sacristan, Tobiasz Obrębski, Pierpaolo Sala and Spektrum Arkitekter
The competiton brief for the Maritime Centre in Frederikssund, a town on Zealand in Denmark, asked for a comprehensive design that would not only meet the needs of the local water sports enthusiasts but also act as a social hub for the resident community. Moreover, the detailed competition brief required two versions, more complex vision project and basic project, either of which would be realised according to the amount of funds collected.
Our team decided to split the program into two linear volumes. The curved building was dedicated to social activities with a gastronomy unit, rooms for social clubs and a possibility to join the ground floor space into a big event space. The straight one with direct connection to the water, was supposed to house mainly storage rooms for sports equipment and changing rooms.
MY CONCEPT STUDIES
I was engaged in development of this competition design from the initial discussions to the delivery deadline. I was working on conceptual sketches and layout planning and then mainly on the Revit model and diagrams such as the one on the next page. I prepared final versions of the floorplans visible on the following page. Moreover, I participated in preparation of the physical model.
AXONOMETRY OF THE VISON PROJECTCONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
CROSS-GENERATIONAL COMMUNITY CENTRE
final master thesis project, Politecnico di Milano
research based concept design
November 2023 - April 2024
supervisors: prof. Paolo Scrivano, Ph.D. Szymon Mateusz Ruszczewski
The issues of urban shrinkage, population ageing, and consecutive lack of social cohesion are present not only in big cities but also in small and medium-sized towns, even though there is less research on the latter. My master thesis discussed these phenomena taking as a case study the town of Elbląg located in northern Poland, in which these problems occur at a moderate scale. Goals of the study are to learn from other similar cases in Europe and to introduce a suitable research and design approach based on the scale and extent of these issues in Elbląg. Existing research suggests aiming to achieve equilibrium on a smaller scale and creating urban centres that offer favourable living conditions for all inhabitants, with a focus on senior residents, rather than promoting unsustainable regrowth. Consequently, this dissertation posed a hypothesis that a public facility, inspired by the recent history of the town, empowering the local community and engaging different generations through mutual learning and craft-related activities is a beneficial and coherent initiative aligned with the existing policies. The proposed design of such a building is influenced by the Open Form Theory in architecture developed by a couple of Polish modern architects Zofia and Oskar Hansen, since one of its core principles is embracing the users’ initiative and interaction through flexibility and adaptability to changing circumstances. Further analysis of architectural projects in the spirit of the Open Form Theory, and the activity of Oskar Hansen in Elbląg both argue for the applicability of this method in the context of contemporary Elbląg. As a result, a set of guidelines was prepared to direct the development of an architectural project of the craft community centre, while the presented conceptual design proposes a possible functional, aesthetic, and spatial answer to the challenges mentioned and initiates a further discussion on other potential solutions.
relation to the building context based on aesthetic contradiction
division between servicing and serviced zone expressed through the differentiation of forms
RESEARCH BASED GUIDELINES
permeation and fluid transition between the interior and the exterior
simplicity in expression and incorporation of graphical interventions
flexibility of the space and fluidity of the functions
minimalistic but effective approach to keep the design realistic
interaction with the users who can directly influence the space
full accessibility and inclusivity for everyone
RESEARCH
TOWN SHRINKAGE
The first part of the research was focused on the issue of urban shrinkage that is and will be affecting many cities and town all around the world. I have started with definition of the issue of shrinkage and sketching out the context beginning at the global scale, through Eastern European background to more local causes and consequences related to small and middle-sized urban centres. Then, I presented the situation of the case study of Elbląg through the statistical data regarding demographics, birth and migration rates, unemployment, percentage of different age groups in the population and more. The presented data suggested that there is a growing elderly population as consequence of depopulation and ageing of the society. Consequently, I have researched and compared various policies and strategies successfully applied in urban centres affected by shrinkage that may turn out beneficial for Elbląg. This research resulted in proposing design directions such as activating the elderly and reconnecting the generations through art and craft.
changes in Elbląg's population since 1945
RESEARCH
WORKSHOPS
OPEN FORM
The second part of the research discussed the Open Form Theory and its application in the design process of the community centre. It is an approach developed by Zofia and Oskar Hansen in 1950s that prioritises the users and invites them to active participation, discussion, and even artistic experiment within the architecture. It is based on changing the hierarchy between the architect and the user as it claims that the built environment should be the background exposing the art of events of everyday life.
Moreover, I have highlighted the connections Oskar Hansen had with Elbląg such as his significant activity in artistic events taking place there. Then, I have studied designs that incorporated Open Form principles both by Hansens and other architects and formulated five main principles to use while designing the master thesis project.
1. adaptability and transformability
2. division for the servicing and the serviced
3. fluid relation of interior and exterior
4. receptiveness to the subject
5. graphical architectural expression
Finally, I have argued why I think that the Open Form Theory is still valid and relevant and not only can but should be incorporated in contemporary design practice. I claimed that these principles are simply guidelines of good architectural practice and since they are relevant in modern context just as much as they were sixty years ago.
CRAFTATELIERS
GRAPHIC work
physical MODELS
office building: interchangeable facade, scale 1:20, Sweco Architects
office building: interior section, scale 1:20, Sweco Architects
office building: facade element, scal 1:1 Sweco Architects
model for the architectural design studio, scale 1:200, Politecnico di Milano
model for the preservation studio, scale 1:50, Politecnico di Milano
my final engineering project - hotel: reinforced concrete and prefabricated slabs
multi-family residential building: prefabricated concrete elements
building DETAILS
building element cards for more sustainable construction choices
Hello! My name is Anna. I am 26-year Architecture graduate from Poland.
I strongly believe that a good design should not only be beautiful but also functional, affordable, and particularly sustainable. To better understand methots of project organisation I have also studied Management as I enjoy acquiring new skills and broadening my knowledge. I learn the most while working with other people and getting to know their point of view. Thus, I have decided to expand my experience and do my master's abroad. Moreover, I have international working experience in Copenhagen and Paris.
I get really involved in any topic I find interesting (and I must admit I am curious about almost everything). I enjoy crafting, especially knitting, and yoga practice in my free time.
SKILLS responsibile organised attentive to detail creativite efficient team member communicative flexibile
SOFTWARE drafting AutoCad modelling Rhino+Grasshopper / Sketchup BIM Revit rendering Enscape / Lumion / Twinmotion graphics Photoshop / Illustrator / Indesign / Corel physical modelling LightBurn / Rayjet Manager
3D printing UltiMaker Cura others Metashape / Microsoft Office
LANGUAGES
Polish native English C1, advanced (IELTS 8.0) French B1, intermediate German A1, basic
ANNA KOLATOR curriculum vitae
01/2023 - 12/2023
EXPERIENCE
Sweco Architects, Copenhagen, Denmark: intern and student worker
• contributing to conceptual and competition projects, managing model workshop (planning, time estimating and preparing physical models and 3D printing for various clients) and introducing and mentoring new interns to the work environment
04/2021 - 07/2021
ECDM Architectes, Paris, France: architectural intern
• architectural survey, renovation project of a XVII century mansion, concept and building phase design drawings development, graphical work and preparing architectural drawings
05/2020 - 09/2020
MAKA STUDIO, Gdansk, Poland: junior architect
• architectural survey, concept and building phase design, coordination and contact with three subcontractors, clients and the city office
04/2018 - 01/2020
students' scientific association Hulaj Urban Squad, GUT, Poland: research on innnovative means of transport in the city
• more than five events coorganisation and supervision, urban mobility infrastructure study, research, contact with sponsors
07/2018
ITO Design, Gdansk, Poland: architectural intern
• architectural survey, building phase design, graphic work
EDUCATION
09/2021 - 04/2024
Politecnico di Milano, Italy: Architecture and Urban Design, MArch graduated with final grade 110/110
09/2020 - 04/2021
European Business School, Paris, France: International Business Management (Erasmus+)
08/2018 - 01/2019
VIA University College, Horsens, Denmark: Architecture Technology and Construction Management (Erasmus+)
10/2017 - 03/2021
Gdansk University of Technology, Poland: Bachelor in Management
10/2016 - 01/2020
Gdansk University of Technology, Poland: Architecture engineering studies, Rector Scholarship for the students with the highest average grade graduated with distinction
ACHIEVEMENTS
02/2021
Finalist mention "Detroit Waterfront District competition by YAC", publication in "Architektura&Biznes", group work
01/2020
Second prize "The Rhythm of Light - house based on Bauhaus principles", individual work
06/2019
Honourable mention "Development of former farmer collective in Cedry Wielkie", group work
09/2018
Second prize according to external judge panel during the evaluation of projects in VIA University College, Horsens, group work
REFERENCE letters
Paris on Jully 24, 2021
Lettre de recommandation
Sir or Madam,
Anna Kolator worked in our architectural firm as a project assistant intern for a period from April 19 to July 30, 2021.
Anna has worked on several assignments in different s phases of study. First of all, she realized a study in order to obtain an administrative authorization for the transformation of a private hotel in Arles. She designed all the graphic pieces and structured the file. Then she worked within a project team on a competition of urbanism and housing in Marseille. In the framework of this competition, she worked on the mass plan and the urban schemes. Finally Anna realized the sales plans of a reside ntial operation of 120 housings in StJacques de la Lande
His time at the agency allowed us to appreciate his professional abilities and his sense of teamwork.
Finally, her benevolence and her open-mindedness suggest a bright future as an architect, so we recommend this young architect.
Please accept, Gentlemen, the expression of my best regards.
Emmanuel Combarel
Gdańsk University of Technology
11/12 Narutowicza Street
Gdańsk, Poland
dziekan-arch@pg.edu.pl
+48 (58) 347 23 15
To Whom it May Concern:
Gdansk, 20.01.2021
I strongly recommend Anna Kolator as a candidate for Architecture Master Program student in Your School.
My name is Agnieszka Błażko and I am a Doctor of Architecture Engineering in Department of Residential Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Gdansk University of Technology. I have encountered many architecture students in my academic career. Anna Kolator is definitely one that positively stands out.
I have been supervisor professor of Anna’s final project on which she had been working for two semesters in 2019. The design process was extremely complex – starting from concept idea to final technical drawings and details. During that year I had a chance to get to know both Anna’s personality traits and also her approach to work and design.
From the beginning she was focused on creating the best concept design possible. She was open to my comments and remarks but also ready to stand up for and justify her ideas. I have noted that she is very diligent and scrupulous. She has great work organisation skills and therefore she had no problems meeting the deadlines while developing the project in a thoughtful and methodical way.
I was also part of the committee on her final engineering exam covering all knowledge gained during her studies. She answered all questions correctly and got the highest grade possible, which proves her dedication and genuine interest in every aspect of Architecture.
Anna is a creative, passionate and talented person. She is extremely ambitious while still maintaining a positive attitude. It was a pleasure to work with her and I think she will be a great addition to Your school.
Sincerely, Agnieszka Błażko, PhD Architecture
Department of Residential Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
Gdansk University of Technology ablazko@pg.edu.pl
Anna Kolator • Gdańsk, Poland • May 2024