The goal of EKODEMIK is to create functional, green, and resident-friendly infrastructure that addresses the needs of the academic community and environmental challenges. The concept was developed through continuous dialogue with dormitory residents—preceded by a survey involving 251 participants, with subsequent stages regularly consulted with representatives of individual dormitory residents' councils.

"How can architecture help improve our well-being and comfort in dorm life? Our project seeks to answer this question," says Kseniya Valendo, President of the Climate Crisis Architecture Students Research Group at the WUT Faculty of Architecture. "While a dormitory is a temporary form of housing, it remains crucial for students. A significant 89.9% of our respondents believe their surrounding space affects their emotional state. After all, the dorm is also a home where students spend at least one-third of their day."

The project vision involves implementing numerous concrete changes at both urban and architectural scales. Key proposals include:

• Transforming the space in front of the main entrance to DS "Akademik" into a pedestrian plaza with permeable surfaces and greenery, reducing car traffic and enhancing the area's aesthetics.
• Reorganizing gate entrances currently used only by cars—residents could use smaller gates opened by a porter or automatically (e.g., with a student ID).

A vital component is the concept of green roofs on internal courtyards and renovating the DS "Akademik" balcony, which offers views of Warsaw's city center. The authors propose installing lightweight green roof systems where possible, and using light-colored gravel or planters with vegetation elsewhere. To improve safety and comfort on the balcony, plans include replacing the surface, installing protective railings, and adding monitoring.

The project also envisions infrastructure supporting recreation and community integration:

• New, more convenient bicycle shelters.
• Grilling and relaxation areas.
• Small-scale courtyard architecture (e.g., hammocks, sun loungers) made from natural and recycled materials.
• Community gardens, gazebos, and a small amphitheatre for meetings and cultural events.

Plans for developing interior spaces include:

• Renovating common rooms.
• Reopening unused saunas.
• Creating accessible coworking spaces.
• Adapting unused rooms for educational and social purposes.

Students also emphasize introducing more diverse greenery in courtyards to increase biodiversity, improve the microclimate, and enhance aesthetics. Proposed solutions like rain gardens and water-retentive surfaces aim to positively impact stormwater management. A notable idea is preparing space for student gardens, providing dorm residents access to fresh, healthy food.

As the latest project activity, a meeting was held on May 20, 2025, at DS "Akademik," where KNAKK students presented their concept to PW administration. Attendees included:

• Rafał Ruzik (WUT Vice-Chancellor),
• Dorota Sobol and Tomasz Rutecki (DS "Akademik" administration),
• Representatives of Residents' Councils (Izabela Gobla, Jakub Daszkiewicz),
• Student Government (Maciej Smoliński),
• Project authors/KNAKK members: Kseniya Valendo, Natalia Pankowa, Ewa Tomaszewska, Nikita Krasnakutski,
• KNAKK supervisor: Kinga Zinowiec-Cieplik, PhD.

The administration responded very positively. Participants jointly identified proposals feasible for near-term implementation and others worth coordinating with planned dormitory renovations.

"From an urban planning perspective, dorm life is a completely different context than living in your own apartment," notes Kseniya Valendo, President of KNAKK. "Here, the interests of students, the student government, dorm managers, university administration members, and private firms—tenants—intersect. How do we create a project that addresses the interests of all members of dorm life while also being aesthetically pleasing and ecological? In the KNAKK research group, we are tackling this challenge!"

The EKODEMIK project is a significant student voice regarding the future of their living space. By combining the architectural and ecological expertise of the research group students with the real needs expressed directly by residents, it presents a concrete vision for the future of Warsaw University of Technology's dormitories.