International architectural workshops in Valencia

Pavilion inspired by traditional Valencian architecture

In February 2025, students from the A3 specialisation at the WUT Faculty of Architecture took part in the first edition of the workshops, organised by the Chair of Timber Architecture at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). The workshops were led by Prof. Begoña Serrano Lanzarote, an internationally recognised expert in sustainable architecture and timber structures. The Polish group was supervised by Prof. Anna Maria Wierzbicka (Head of the A3 specialisation and the educational-research programme "Stawiamy_") and Renata Jóźwik, PhD.

Construction of the pavilion during the 1^st edition of the workshops in Valencia

The first edition participants included Stanisław Dawidziuk, Michał Szczepanek, Mikołaj Szafrański, and Julia Stefanowa. Their main task was to collaboratively design and build a wooden pavilion inspired by traditional Valencian storage sheds for fruit and vegetables. The structure, featuring a light timber frame and perforated cladding, was constructed on the UPV campus, offering natural passive ventilation, modularity, and excellent adaptation to the Mediterranean climate.

The project embodied the spirit of the New European Bauhaus – a European initiative merging sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusiveness – while putting into practice the goals of the ENHANCE alliance (European Universities of Technology Alliance), of which both WUT and UPV are members. Today, the pavilion serves as a space for informal meetings, outdoor classes, and exhibitions, standing as a living example of small-scale architectural design serving the academic community.

Pavilion built during the 1st edition of the workshops in Valencia

Prototype pavilion for work and educational activities

The second edition of the workshops followed in February 2026, bringing further intensive days of collaborative work. The Polish group was supervised by Prof. Anna Maria Wierzbicka together with Anita Orchowska, PhD, with Prof. Begoña Serrano Lanzarote again leading the workshops.

The participants of the second edition were Ewa Maniak, Hanna Lechowska, Alicja Zioło, Szymon Kucharczyk, and Piotr Marczak (continuing from the first edition). All were affiliated with the Student Research Group "Architecture of Technology and WUT Structures."

Construction of the pavilion during the 2nd edition of the workshops in Valencia

The task for the second edition was to build a prototype pavilion that would create a space for work and further educational activities. This edition deepened the interdisciplinary approach to wood as a future-oriented material and strengthened both the research and educational dimensions of the ENHANCE alliance.

Both editions are part of the "Stawiamy_" programme, developed at the WUT Faculty of Architecture since 2023, which promotes experimental, socially engaged architecture and combines tradition with innovation in small-scale spatial forms.

"The workshops have fostered growing scientific cooperation, including joint publications on new teaching methods based on 'learning by doing' that translate into practice and real design impact," says Prof. Anna Maria Wierzbicka.

Participants and coordinators of the 2nd edition of the international architectural workshops in Valencia

Learning architecture through practice

Participation in the Valencia project enriched students' experience with a multicultural dimension – they collaborated with peers from Spain, Japan, Equatorial Guinea, and other countries, exchanging ideas, techniques, and perspectives on architecture across different climatic and cultural contexts.

"Thanks to WUT's membership in the ENHANCE alliance, the workshops have become a model of deep, systemic educational and research cooperation aligned with the priorities of European low-emission construction," notes Prof. Anna Maria Wierzbicka. "The project has yielded substantial outcomes: new competencies in designing and constructing timber structures, strengthened teamwork skills in an international environment, and the establishment of lasting academic relationships. A formal pathway for educational and research cooperation between WUT and UPV has been created and will be developed in the coming years through joint design studios, research projects, student exchanges, and conferences."

Architectural workshops in Valencia