On 19th-24th July 2017, the ‘SPOT- Let’s Meet in Redzyńskie’ event took place: 23 young people related to architecture and construction came to the Redzyńskie village to help with a project of expanding the house of Agata and Mirosław’s family. In addition to volunteering at the build site, they took part in various discussions and workshops. The event was organised by the members of the SPOT initiative.
The idea of SPOT was born last year, when the representatives of Habitat for Humanity Poland appeared at the festival by architecture students. Our presentation inspired a group of young people who claimed that they lack opportunities to check their skills at the construction site. They noted that most people graduate with great theoretical knowledge but little practice, and they decided to change it. They created a many-sided SPOT initiative, a platform providing the opportunity to exchange thoughts and encourage cooperation, to do something more than usual. Organising ‘SPOT- let’s meet in Redzyńskie’ event was their first challenge. It combined volunteering at the build site with a series of discussions and workshops, all under the tagline of ‘The Positive Charge’.
The event was arranged by the members of the SPOT initiative: 10 students and recent graduates of programs such as architecture and environmental engineering. Together, they prepared the programme of the event, organised the logistics, acquired donors, designed communication materials and recruited the participants. Our employees supported them with advice in organisational matters, coordinated construction works and provided technical supervision, to make volunteering at the building site both safe and satisfying.
gata Bosiacka, a graduate of the faculty of architecture was the main coordinator of the event. In an interview with the Polskie Radio Channel One she explained that SPOT gives its participants a chance not only to do something good but also to increase their knowledge and make new contacts:
I’m a graduate of architecture and so far I’ve missed the contact with people of different faculties. The additional purpose of this project is to raise students’ awareness of the social aspect of housing.
What happened during ‘SPOT- Let’s Meet in Redzyńskie’?
Volunteering at the build site
The participants of the event were involved as volunteers in the construction works which we’re conducting in the village of Redzyńskie (Mazovian Voivodeship). The project started in April and involves extending the house of Agata and Mirosław’s family, so as this family of eight can have more living space than just one room.
More information about the family of Agata and Mirosław and our project can be found on the page of the project: House extension with the family of Agata and Mirosław in Redzyńskie.
The volunteers spent 3 days at the build site and completed all their scheduled tasks:
- built a knee wall, i.e. a wall added to a tier’s top panel in order to raise the roof,
- prepared the reinforcement and formwork for a bottom chord, i.e. beams which carry the load of the timber roof truss to the walls,
- masoned and poured forth a terrace connecting the new building with the existing one,
- dug a well.
Discussions and workshops
Time off from volunteering at the build site was devoted to discussions and meetings with the following experts who represented various industries related to housing:
- Zygmunt Suwiński (Habitat for Humanity Poland’s building co-ordinator) shared his reflections on cooperation between architects and builders;
- Magdalena Więch (Habitat for Humanity Poland’s volunteer coordinator) talked about the activities of Habitat for Humanity Poland;
- Mariusz Zatylny (an architect who regularly assists us in renovation projects in Łódź) presented the subject of ecological housing;
- Magdalena Mostowska (a sociologist and architect), Barbara Audycka (Habitat for Humanity Poland’s advocacy manager) ajdTomasz Zaborowski a Doctor of Technical Sciences in architecture and urban planning) held a discussion during which they addressed the topics of poverty, housing issues and spatial policy;
- Piotr Cieszewski (a leadership coach and one of the best motivational and inspirational speakers in Poland) gave a speech about achieving goals and overcoming limitations.
In addition, on Sunday (July 23rd), a series of workshops took place. The participants split into 5 groups and addressed the following issues under the guidance of tutors:
1..Designing the interior of Agata and Mirosław’s house – together with bro.Kat Studio.
2. The attempt to find public space in the countryside and designing a project that would invigorate it – together with Paweł Jaworski.
3. Designing a house which is fully customized and responds to the needs of its presumed owner – together with Zuzanna Róg from JASTAA Studio.
4. Renovating antique furniture – with Andrzej Szałacki.
5. Designing and making wooden furniture – together with Patryk Bieg, the owner of WoodMaker.
At the end of the day, the groups had the opportunity to exchange experiences and to present the outcome of their work.
‘SPOT- Let’s Meet in Redzyńskie’ in the media
Representatives of Habitat for Humanity Poland talked about ‘SPOT- Let’s Meet in Redzyńskie’ in several radio stations, including:
- Polskie Radio Channel One: Students help Habitat for Humanity Poland
- Radio dla Ciebie: Evening in Radio dla Ciebie: ‘SPOT- Let’s Meet in Redzyńskie!’
What is SPOT?
SPOT is a nationwide architectural-constructional initiative, realized thanks to Habitat for Humanity Poland, bringing together young people associated with the design and construction industry.
We encourage all people interested in SPOT to visit its profile on Facebook.
