Poland is one of the last European Union countries without a national architectural policy that would set standards for planning and the quality of public space. The architectural community points out that the lack of coherent regulations makes it more difficult to carry out investments, protect heritage buildings and coordinate rules affecting the way cities and buildings are designed. On 14–15 May, participants of the Congress of Polish Architecture at the Museum of Polish History in Warsaw will discuss the need for change and the future of the architectural profession.
Architectural policies already exist in 35 European countries, which means Poland is among the few that still do not have such a document. In November 2025, the Ministry of Development and Technology appointed an advisory team to prepare the National Architectural Policy. Its task is to develop Poland’s first document defining directions for architecture, urban planning and the quality of public space.
“We expect a strategic document that will set a framework for many acts of substantive law that have a direct impact on our lives. Such multi-sectoral coordination will bring order to the situation and use the potential found across many ministries and areas of life — potential that architects will know how to apply,” Piotr Fokczyński, President of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, told Newseria.
According to the ministry’s announcements, the policy is to cover, among other things, standards for the design of buildings and infrastructure, protection of cultural heritage, development of ecological construction and principles of sustainable spatial management. Representatives of the profession also emphasise that the aim is to improve the quality of public space as a common good.
“Sometimes a single detail can block even a very good architectural project. That is why we expect an architectural policy and changes that are not merely selective, but also cover other areas of life, even in other ministries. They are important because they will determine the effectiveness of architectural policy and, for example, create an opportunity to bring a historic building back to life and use its potential. One of the common problems faced by architects working with historic fabric concerns how to combine complex technical requirements with the character of a historical building under which, for instance, there is no possibility of building an underground car park,” says Piotr Fokczyński.
According to data from the National Institute of Cultural Heritage, around 90,000 immovable monuments are listed in the register, including historical urban layouts, industrial facilities, townhouses and public buildings. A significant share of them require modernisation and adaptation to contemporary functional standards. Architects have long pointed to the difficulties involved in reconciling heritage protection requirements with current technical regulations.
“The state has health, defence, transport and energy policies — documents that are highly specialised and guide us in a certain direction — but it has no architectural policy. This means we operate in an uncontrolled environment that we want to bring under control. Architectural policy is, in fact, a government declaration that it wants to have such a document. If we had to say what is most important, it could be summarised in two words: legislation and education. This must ultimately result in government documents in the form of acts or regulations. Raising public and professional awareness is a long-distance run. The congress will give it momentum,” argues Piotr Gadomski, Vice-President of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland.
Congress of Polish Architecture to Focus on Space, Value and Responsibility
The Congress of Polish Architecture, organised under the slogan “Space — Value and Responsibility” by the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, the Association of Polish Architects and the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, is intended to be a forum for discussion not only about design quality, but also about legislative changes and architectural education.
The programme includes several panels devoted to topics such as spatial planning, heritage protection, housing, energy transformation and the impact of architecture and space on mental and physical health, as well as on the everyday functioning of residents.
One of the main topics of the congress will be problems related to spatial planning and urban order. The Supreme Audit Office has indicated that in 2020, local spatial development plans covered only 32% of Poland’s territory. In areas without such plans, investments are carried out on the basis of planning decisions. In 2022 alone, almost 140,000 such decisions were issued. The Supreme Audit Office stressed that the lack of coherent spatial management leads to scattered development, landscape degradation and high infrastructure costs.
“Sometimes excellent architecture looks different when framed in a close-up than when we step back 100 or 200 metres, or even a kilometre, and see it from a broader perspective. Unfortunately, the surroundings often do not look as good. Now this potential must be used to build harmoniously arranged space. That will be a strong step forward,” emphasises Piotr Fokczyński.
Polish Architecture Has Strong International Potential
Projects from Poland regularly appear on nomination lists for the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture — the Mies van der Rohe Award, one of Europe’s most important architectural prizes. In recent years, distinctions have gone to projects related to the revitalisation of public spaces, residential architecture, educational buildings and cultural facilities. According to industry representatives, the quality of execution and cooperation between designers of different specialisations has also improved.
“Contemporary design services provided to the state through public procurement and to individual clients were created from scratch after 1989. This branch was built by designers, architects, structural engineers and design studios of various specialisations. Over these years, we have developed design offices from nothing to a very high level. Today they have leaders who cooperate with the biggest global and European brands,” emphasises Piotr Gadomski.
“One of the panels at the Congress of Polish Architecture will be ‘Architecture as Poland’s Ambassador in the World’. Using these examples, we want to show that we keep pace with those brands, even though we have built these services from scratch over several decades,” he adds.
“In terms of construction craftsmanship, we are at a good European level, which was not so common 10 or 20 years ago. So architecture is doing well. What matters, however, is that it should be treated as an engine for creating the best possible living conditions for citizens, so that these are not isolated examples — because unfortunately, that is where the problem lies,” adds Piotr Fokczyński.
Events for Residents and People Outside the Industry
The programme of the Congress of Polish Architecture also includes events addressed to residents and people from outside the profession. Between 9 and 17 May, urban walks, film screenings, exhibitions and educational events will take place in Warsaw and other cities, organised in cooperation with regional chambers of architects. Their aim is to show residents how architecture affects everyday life and the quality of the space around them.
“This will be a very good year for architecture and space. Several very positive circumstances have come together — we had the presidency of the European Union, and within that framework the topic of architectural policies in EU countries appeared. We decided to prepare a congress where we will talk about architecture, but not limiting ourselves to admiration for its current condition. Instead, we will look for the potential for further development,” says the President of the National Council of the Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland.
