Team
dr inż. arch. Katarzyna Sadowy
Who are you?
I am a pproblem-solver —both in academic and the “real” world.
What are you currently engaged in?
Cities. This has been my main interest for many years now. Cities fascinate me – as a tangible space, but also a network of interactions, of economy and democracy, of the constant change. I study the potential of circular economy to make the cities more just and sustainable. In times of the COVID-19 pandemic these challenges became even more relevant. This is an area of my research in SGH Warsaw School of Economics, and my area of expertise as an advisor for various bodies. I am also interested in local economy – from schools to local groceries and I have been coordinating research projects about local economy in SGH since 2017. Within the OpenHeritage project, I coordinate the work of the Polish team.
Former relevant experience
Each and every experience to date is helpful in my current work. My former work as an architect sharpens my perspective on the city and on the real estate. Since I am part of academia, I also look at the cities from more socio-economic point of view. For PragaLAB, the Praga Północ workshop at OW SARP (Warsaw Branch of Polish Architects Association) in 2014 is most relevant. It also started a series of similar workshop, including the Programme of Warsaw Local Centre for Warsaw municipality. In 2020 I published a book “Miasto policentryczne” (“Polycentric city”) based on these experiences and following research. I had a wonderful chance to learn from such institutions as TARKI and Metropolitan Research Institute in Budapest and CEET-CNAM in Noisy-le-Grand, where I conducted other studies. What is the best, is the fact that I know well public and private sector, practice and academia, but also NGOs.
What is your connection with Praga?
Fascination and work.
What values do you cherish most in Praga?
Urban atmosphere. Strong character. Praga is a district where you can see the economy at work – from street vendors to big factories. I am truly sorry to see them disappear.
dr Dominika Brodowicz
Who are you?
As I’ve recently found out from one of my 3-year old son’s wise books—I am a female scholar 🙂 From time to time, I also act as consultant for municipal and commercial projects.
What are you currently engaged in?
For years, I have been passionately seeking trends and directions in the development of cities and the real estate market in various parts of the world, mainly in Europe and North America. By studying both the past and the present, I develop scenarios for urbanized areas for the coming decades. I focus on green and intelligent development, on socially responsible investing in real estate and on tangible and intangible heritage of cities. I am Assistant Professor at the Department of Innovative City at the Warsaw School of Economics [SGH] and the head of PragaLAB, part of the OpenHeritage project.
Former relevant experience
My way of thinking about a city as a “system of interconnected vessels” has been shaped by my doctoral research at The Futures Academy, Dublin Institute of Technology, and above all the project 2030 Built Environment Foresight 2030: Sustainable Development Imperative in which I collaborated at the RICS Foundation and the King Sturge (currently part of JLL). Based on these experiences and knowledge, I developed and implemented, among others, a project dedicated to responsible investing in the real estate market and to eco-innovations in cities. I am academically associated with CityScienceLab, HafenCityUniversität Hamburg (postdoc ZEIT-Stiftung) and the School of Architecture, University of Virginia (postdoc of the Kosciuszko Foundation), and more practically with the dr^2.ai think-tank.
What is your connection with Praga?
Actually, I have had a connection with Praga since early childhood. As a little girl, I often visited the “other side” of Warsaw with my parents who both worked there for many years. The state-owned enterprise where they were employed was privatised in the 1990s and then closed down. Many precious Praga business projects suffered similar fate, and the negative effects of their disappearance are still visible today. Back to the joyful memories—I was fascinated by the Różycki Bazaar, its hustle and bustle, unique ambience, local bands, food. To this day, I remember the wonderful pink snow boots from Różyc that I chose at the age of 5, as well as family excursions to the zoo (nowadays I have a completely different opinion and awareness of what such places are, but that’s another story …).
What values do you cherish most in Praga?
When I think about Praga, I think about authenticity and history, but also about a very active and committed community. Its members form larger and—more importantly—smaller initiatives, from associations and activist groups to residents who, like in no other district of Warsaw, are interested in what is happening in their neighbourhood. Therefore, we are dealing with an area of historical, architectural and communal value where residents and local enthusiasts create its unique atmosphere.
arch. Maciej Czeredys
Who are you?
I am an architect and urbanist working in the field of adaptive heritage re-use and culture.
What are you currently engaged in?
Aside from working for the Open Heritage project, I am Deputy Director for Investment of Sinfonia Varsovia, where I manage the heritage adaptive-reuse project of converting the late nineteenth-century Veterinary Institute into a new music centre for Warsaw (sinfoniavarsoviacentrum.pl).
Former relevant experience
As a head of the investment department at Nowy Teatr, I was responsible for the project of adapting the pre-war municipal waste and sanitation company garage to performing arts centre and a popular local public space (nowyteatr.org). Until 2007, I worked for the regional monuments’ protection office as a head of the Department of Monuments’ Documentation and Registration, and next as the Deputy Conservation Officer for the Mazovian Province. My work as a designer includes architectural installations, public spaces projects, research studies on spatial development, programs for heritage adaptive-reuse projects mostly for Warsaw’s buildings and locations, and architectural competitions. I am also a deputy chairman of the Warsaw City Planning and Architecture Commission.
What is your connection with Praga?
I used to live in Praga for over a decade; I engaged in numerous projects and initiatives related to its space, identity and future. I am a co-author of one the key masterplans for the northern section of the historic part of Praga. I am also a co-author of PRA Illustrated Atlas of Praga Architecture.
What values do you cherish most in Praga?
I appreciate Praga’s authenticity as well as its spatial and social complexity. I like to think about the district through its untapped potential.