MBA Kraków 2021

The state of the world over the last few decades is undergoing profound changes. The division of the environment into a natural and transformed one is beginning to show a galloping diminution of the resources of the earlier and an alarmingly burdensome growth of the latter. The exploitation of natural resources has exceeded its capacity on a global scale to such an extent that there is no longer any doubt about the prospect of their imminent exhaustion. The search for new resources and the reduction of demand are becoming the main guidelines for the remodelling of the most areas of human life. All aspects of this change affect architecture in all its manifestations. One of the ways of achieving new qualities, while inhibiting destructive consequences, is to implement extensive measures for their reuse, preferably multiple use. The linear flow of matter-energy, common in the history of our civilisation: from the source to the “dustbin”, must be changed into a closed cycle – recycling. Instead of building only the “new”, it is necessary to learn to reuse the “old”, to use it again and again – to RE-USE.

That is why the leading theme of this year’s International Architecture Biennale Krakow 2021 is “RE-USE”. It is also of particular importance in the period of the pandemic that has been lasting for two years, when social and economic changes force the necessity to change the uses of buildings and public spaces. It can also be considered in relation to individual urban spaces that are changing before our eyes.

The organisers of this year’s edition are guided by the idea of bringing together and integrating Krakow’s architectural community. The appointed Programme Council consisted of association circles – the Union of Polish Architects, local government circles – the Małopolska Regional Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland, academic circles – the Faculty of Architecture at the Krakow University of Technology, and media circles – the A&B magazine.

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