The International Biennale of Architecture Kraków 2025, Re-Think
Program
October 10–11, 2025, ICE Kraków Congress Center, ul. Marii Konopnickiej 17
October 10, 2025 (Friday)
Registration for day 1
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Reception
Opening of the International Biennale of Architecture Kraków 2025
Magdalena Buczyńska, architect – President of the Association of Polish Architects, Cracow Branch
- Stanisław Mazur, PhD, professor at the Krakow University of Economics – First Deputy Mayor of Cracow
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Auditorium Hall
The identity of place in a new light. Shaping contemporary public spaces in historic urban structures
(Panel discussion)
Moderator: Dominika Długosz, PhD, Eng. of Architecture, Department of History of Architecture and Conservation of Monuments, Faculty of Architecture, Cracow University of Technology
Panel guests:
- Katarzyna Urbańska, architect – Malopolska Regional Monuments Conservator
- Prof. Dominika Kuśnierz-Krupa, PhD, Eng. of Architecture, landscape architect – President of the Association of Monument Conservators, Cracow Branch
- Marta A. Urbańska, PhD, Eng. of Architecture, professor at the Cracow University of Technology
- Prof. Andrzej Betlej, PhD – Director of the Wawel Royal Castle – State Art Collection
- Prof. Andrzej Kadłuczka, PhD, Eng. of Architecture
- Tomasz Konior, PhD, Eng. of Architecture
- Piotr Pasierbiński, architect
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Auditorium Hall
In an era of a dynamic social change and growing expectations among residents, historic cities face an important question: how to create contemporary public spaces without losing their historical identity?
The redevelopment of historic urban spaces cannot mean erasing the past—on the contrary, it should highlight it and translate it into the contemporary design language, without losing the unique character of the heritage that defines their identity. The panel will attempt to answer the question of how to design any functional and inclusive public spaces in the historic fabric of the city, where the boundaries of contemporary interventions lie, and what tools and strategies allow for wise, responsible design that respects the past.
Break
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Planning the future of Cracow – Integration of the Municipal Development Strategy and the General Plan
(Panel co-organized with the Society of Polish Town Planners)
Introduction:
The space of Cracow in the Biennale debates – Prof. Barbara Bartkowicz, PhD, Eng. of Architecture, Honorary President of the Cracow Branch of the Society of Polish Town Planners.
Moderators:
- Tomasz Majda, PhD, Eng. of Architecture– President of the Society of Polish Town Planners, Vice-President-elect of the European Council of Spatial Planners, Warsaw University of Technology
- Małgorzata Tomczak – Editor-in-Chief of „Architektura & Biznes” magazine
Panel guests:
- Stanisław Mazur, PhD, professor at the Krakow University of Economics – First Deputy Mayor of Cracow
- Prof. Andrzej Szarata, PhD, Eng. – Rector of the Cracow University of Technology
- Prof. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak, PhD, Eng. of Architecture– Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology
- Krzysztof Görlich, PhD – Deputy Mayor of Cracow in 1990 and 1994-1998
- Rafał Solecki, PhD – Director of the Strategy and European Funds Department, Cracow City Hall
- Marceli Łasocha, PhD, Eng. of Architecture – Deputy Director of the Department of Spatial Planning of the Cracow City Hall for the General Plan, President of the Society of Polish Town Planners, Cracow Branch, Cracow University of Technology
- Magdalena Buczyńska, architect – President of the Association of Polish Architects, Cracow Branch
- Anna Aneta Tomczak, PhD, Eng. of Architecture – Vice President of the Society of Polish Town Planners, Lodz University of Technology
- Prof. Piotr Lorens, PhD, Eng. of Architecture – City Architect of Gdańsk, the Society of Polish Town Planners, Gdańsk University of Technology
2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Auditorium Hall
The panel, organized jointly with the Society of Polish Town Planners, is an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of any ideas on the future of Cracow as a city with an unique cultural heritage, as well as a sustainable and functional city. A group of distinguished experts—urban planners, architects, representatives of local authorities, and academics—will attempt to answer the question of how to effectively translate development strategies into concrete actions in urban space.
The discussion will cover some key aspects of planning: from the vision contained in the development strategy, through planning issues, and later infrastructure, legal, and financial issues, to the implementation of projects, taking into account or despite the above conditions. A particular emphasis will be placed on the role of culture and spatial harmony, as well as on the importance of design methodology and good practices implemented in other cities, such as Gdańsk, Łódź, and Warsaw. The panel will also be an opportunity to reflect on the tools available to local governments in shaping the spatial order and on a new legal system affecting the urban planning.
Joint moderation by Tomasz Majda (President of the Society of Polish Town Planners) and Małgorzata Tomczak (editor of A&B magazine) will ensure a dynamic discussion, combining expert perspectives with the voice of the media community. The panel promises to be an inspiring meeting that may set some new directions for the development of Cracow and launch reflections on the further debate on the future of Polish cities.
Break
4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Related events – Friday, October 10, 2025
Student Architecture Workshops
Topic: “Krakow Flower Sellers’ Stalls – an element of urban identity”
10:15 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 1
The “AUGMENTUM – a journey through the architecture of Tadao Ando’s single-family homes” exhibition
(A project by the Faculty of Architecture, Cracow University of Technology
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Opening
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
VR Presentation
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 2
Announcement of the results of the competition organized by the Cracow branch of the Society of Polish Town Planners for the best thesis in the field of urban planning, spatial planning, and landscape architecture defended in 2024
Public presentation of the award-winning and distinguished thesis
Host: Dorota Jopek, PhD, Eng. of Architecture
4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 0
Award Ceremony of Salon Architektury Competition – Malopolska Regional Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 2
October 11, 2025 (Saturday)
Registration for day 2
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Reception
Opening of the second day of the Biennale
Magdalena Buczyńska, architect – President of the Association of Polish Architects, Cracow Branch
Auditorium Hall
Re-Thinking, Kraków Metro
(Panel co-organized with the Cracow University of Technology – Faculty of Architecture)
- Moderator: Kinga Racoń-Leja, PhD., Eng. of Architecture, professor at the Cracow University of Technology
Panel guests:
- Prof. Denis Bocquet – École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture (France)
- Prof. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak – PhD, Eng. of Architecture– Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology
- Małgorzata Kuzianik, architect – Director of the Department of Spatial Planning of the Cracow City Hall
- Klaudia Stala, PhD, professor at the Cracow University of Technology – expert in the field of architectural heritage and cultural landscape protection, member of the Association of Monument Conservators, Cracow Branch
- Prof. Andrzej Szarata, PhD, Eng. – Rector of the Cracow University of Technology
- Prof. Krzysztof Tajduś, PhD, Eng. – AGH University of Science and Technology
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Auditorium Hall
Could Cracow get a metro system? This topic has returned to the discussion table after many years, particularly in light of Mayor Aleksander Miszalski’s decision to establish the Scientific and Technical Council for the Metro in 2024. The members of the Council, including representatives of the Cracow University of Techology (PK), will share the conclusions of the work carried out so far, showing us the latest variants of the solutions analyzed.
Is the metro a chance to solve the city’s transportation problems? Could its implementation increase Cracow’s prestige? Could the tunnel solutions affect the surface and buildings? And finally, what solutions would be appropriate for a city whose significant historical area has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List or lies within its buffer zone? These and other questions will be answered by invited guests, including Stanisław Mazur, Deputy Mayor of Cracow, Rector of the Cracow University of Technology, Prof. Andrzej Szarata, Małgorzata Kuzianik, architect – Director of the Department of Spatial Planning of the Cracow City Hall,Ph.D., Prof. Krzysztof Tajduś, Ph.D., Eng. at the AGH University of Science and Technology, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Cracow University of Technology, Prof. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak, Ph.D., Eng. and Architect, as well as Professor at the Cracow University of Technology, Klaudia Stala, Ph.D. The European context will be presented by Prof. Denis Bocquet from ENSAS National School of Architecture of Strasbourg. The panel will be moderated by Professor at the Cracow University of Technology, Kinga Racoń-Leja, Ph.D., Eng. and Architect.
Break
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Summary of the Student Architecture Workshops
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Auditorium Hall
40th Anniversary of the International Biennale of Architecture
- Moderator: Małgorzata Tomczak — Editor-in-Chief of “Architektura & Biznes” magazine
Guests:
- Romuald Loegler, founder of the Biennale, President of SARP Kraków, 1984–1990
- Krystyna Łyczakowska, President of SARP Kraków, 2000–2006
- Piotr Gajewski, President of SARP Kraków, 2006–2012
- Bohdan Biś Lisowski, President of SARP Kraków, 2012–2019
- Marek Kaszyński, President of SARP Kraków, 2019–2023
- Magdalena Buczyńska, President of SARP Kraków, 2023–
Awards and closing ceremony of the International Biennale of Architecture Kraków 2025
3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Auditorium Hall
Related events – Saturday, October 11, 2025
Student Architecture Workshops
Topic: “Krakow Flower Sellers’ Stalls – an element of urban identity”
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 1
VR presentation: „AUGMENTUM – a journey through the architecture of Tadao Ando’s single-family homes”
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 2
Opening of the anniversary exhibition celebrating the 40th anniversary of the International Biennale of Architecture
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer
Level 1
The International Biennale of Architecture Kraków 2025 event accompanying exhibitions
The International Biennale of Architecture Kraków 2025 competition exhibition – Re-Think
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 1
Anniversary exhibition of the International Biennale of Architecture (1985–2025)
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 1
Exhibition of Salon Architektury – Malopolska Regional Chamber of Architects of the Republic of Poland
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 1
Exhibition: „AUGMENTUM– a journey through the architecture of Tadao Ando’s single-family homes”
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 2
Competition exhibition of the Cracow branch of the Society of Polish Town Planners – the best thesis in the field of urban planning, spatial planning, and landscape architecture defended in 2024.
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 0
Exhibition – presentation of the “Masterplan Wesoła” project
ICE Congress Center – Foyer Level 2
Note: We reserve the right to make changes to the program.