Up!Awards 2026 awarded!

The jury honored designers, companies and projects whose activities contribute to the development of the industry, create “green” spaces and care for the good of the community.

The Up!Awards gala began with a manifesto: “Architecture of the future: 180 seconds of truth”, which provoked reflection on the direction of design and architecture with three questions. Janusz Komurkiewicz, member of the management board of Fakro, Tomasz Kozak, vice-president of the management board of the Profbud capital group and Mirosław Nizio, architect and owner of the Nizio Design studio, were invited to take part in the deliberations.

What is the biggest lie in architecture and design today?

– The biggest lie in architecture and design are unsubstantiated words and declarations, especially those in the field of ESG. ESG means responsible design, responsible architecture, responsibility for people – said Janusz Komurkiewicz, member of the management board of Fakro.

– In my opinion, the biggest lie in design is reducing and recognizing the role of the developer solely to the role of people, entities constructing the building – said Tomasz Kozak, vice-president of the management board of the Profbud capital group.

– The biggest lie in architecture is that good architecture must be spectacular, while good architecture has to be modest, useful and functional. The second lie is that the architecture of memory is associated with history, while the architecture of memory also speaks about the present and the future – Mirosław Nizio, architect, owner of the Nizio Design studio.

What will we be ashamed of as an industry in 10 years?

– We will be ashamed of our lack of courage, lack of ideas. And this idea determines what we implement every day – said Janusz Komurkiewicz, member of the Fakro management board.

– In ten years we will be ashamed of the fact that we designed and prepared beautiful marketing brochures with beautiful visualizations of buildings that do not fit the way we live in these buildings at all – said Tomasz Kozak, vice-president of the management board of the Profbud capital group.

– In ten years we will be ashamed of the fact that we have copied global trends. Meanwhile, architecture is local identity – said Mirosław Nizio, architect and owner of the Nizio Design studio.

One thing you need to stop designing immediately?

– We must immediately stop designing rooms without natural light, because there is always a person in the center, and people need natural light – said Janusz Komurkiewicz, member of the Fakro management board.

– One thing that needs to stop solely being designed is the building. However, what you need to start designing is building communities in this building and you should stop treating health, energy, zero-energy buildings and relationships only as a marketing addition, only as an element of the basic logic of the project – said Tomasz Kozak, vice-president of the management board of the Profbud capital group.

– We should stop designing architecture that does not think about climate change. We should stop single-use architecture, said Mirosław Nizio, architect and owner of the Nizio Design studio.

The event was officially opened by the President of PMPG Polskie Media, Katarzyna Gintrowska, who in her speech emphasized the role of architects in the changing world.

– The future of architecture does not lie in subsequent layers of decoration, but in the courage to give up – said Katarzyna Gintrowska, president of PMPG Polskie Media.

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AWARDS

Innovation of the Year

The Iłża-Pakosław Wind Farm was awarded for its investment courage, real impact on the energy transformation and consistent implementation of modern solutions. Przemysław Szramowski, Proxy of GREEN ON ENERGY, received the award from Marek Chrobak, President of the Management Board of the Association of Polish Architects, member of the Up!Awards jury.

– I think this is just the beginning of our adventure with energy and we have much more ambitious goals in our plans, so we will be talked about in the future – said Przemysław Szramowski, Proxy of GREEN ON ENERGY.

Design & Craft

The award in this category was presented by Iwona Ławecka-Marczewska, editor-in-chief of the online magazine Design.doc and member of the Up!Awards jury for attention to detail, nobility of materials and a harmonious combination of functions and timeless design. The winner was Nudo Design for the Mosso Table project. The statuette was received by the main designer and owner of the brand, Domenico Russo.

Public Space

The award for creating a socially, symbolically and architecturally important place went to the Archigrest and TopoScape design team for the “Burza” Action Park project. Justyna Dziedziejko received the award from Marta Niemywska-Grynasz and Dawid Grynasz, the Grynasz Studio design duo.

Socially Engaged Project

The winner of this category was the XYstudio studio for the Intergenerational Activity Center. The awarded project became a space for dialogue, integration and building relationships across generations. The award was received by Dorota Sibińska and Filip Domaszczyński, who jointly create the studio, by Mirosław Nizio, architect, owner of the Nizio Design studio, and winner of Up!Awards 2024.

– We are glad that low-budget architecture is winning awards such as this one. I would like to continue designing things for ordinary people – said Dorota Sibińska.

Workspaces / Modern Office

Today, a modern workplace is a space of inspiration, cooperation and development. The winner of the Work Space/Modern Office category was BDM Architekci for the GUM Laboratory Campus. The award was received by Maciej Dembiński, president of the management board of BDM Architekci, and Jacek Mroczkowski, member of the management board, from Agnieszka Stefańska, interior designer, vice-president of the Association of Interior Designers.

– I would like to thank everyone for appreciating this project. I thank all my masters whom I met along my way – said Jacek Mroczkowski, member of the management board.

With respect for the past

The award in this category was presented by Janusz Komurkiewicz, president of the management board of Fakro, and the winner was the WXCA Architectural Office for the design of the Bagatela Theater in Krakow. The awarded project showed that respect for heritage can go hand in hand with modern thinking about space and its functions.

– Before each team selection, everyone is asked whether they are interested in a given topic and whether we get along well. There are lots of conversations and at some point the story becomes a very important member of the team. I believe that analyzing history as best as possible gives the most obvious solutions, as in the Bagatela Theater in Krakow – said Klaudia Grodzicka.

Technology and Digitization in Construction

For the groundbreaking use of 3D printing technology and redefining the boundaries of modern construction, the winner was Holcim Polska SA for the world’s first 3D printed drinking water tank. The award was received by Rafał Latawiec, Manager of 3D Concrete Printing at Holcim Polska SA

Debut / Emerging Studio

A distinction for fresh thinking, design courage and exceptional aesthetic sensitivity went to Archmondo – Piotr Kowalczyk. The award will be presented by Grzegorz Hestkowski, Vice-President of the Management Board of Primavera Furniture.

– I believe in honest, timeless and logical architecture. I am glad that we are reaching a growing number of recipients – said Piotr Kowalczyk.

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EDITORIAL MENTIONS

Special award: Nobu Hotel Warsaw

A special award went to Nobu Hotel Warsaw for creating a space that is an icon of modern design and global hospitality standards. The distinction was received by Stefan Bauer, managing director of Nobu Hotel Warsaw, from Wioletta Wabnic, Brand Strategy Director of Home&Design and the website dom.wprost.pl.

Special award: KFA Armatura

This award is recognition for the brand that combines design with durability of materials and an ecological approach to life, symbolized by the MOZA316L collection. The award was received by Katarzyna Pluta, ESG & Communication Manager at KFA Armatura, from the President of Deer Design, Karolina Karwowska-Gajżewska.

– The manifesto that was announced at the beginning of the gala is very close to us. We know that, above all, we must always pay attention to user comfort and saving e.g. water – said Katarzyna Pluta, ESG & Communication Manager at KFA Armatura.

Special award: Katarzyna Weremczuk

The UP!Awards 2026 Special Prize was awarded to Katarzyna Weremczuk, interior designer, owner of the premium interior design studio Weremczuk Design, for her inspiring activities and consistent creation of space for quality and aesthetics. The award will be presented by Agnieszka Sakowicz, owner of DesArte Studio.

– This award is the culmination of my work. We will continue to design because people are the most important to us – said Katarzyna Weremczuk.

Special award: Angel Poland Group

The award went to The Upper House by Angel apartment building in Wrocław, developed by the Angel Poland group, for creating a new standard of luxury premium residential construction.

– Upper House is a unique project. We wanted to create a place for people who want more than just a premium location, and we succeeded – said Agata Jagiełło, PR & Communications Manager Angel Poland Group.

Special award: Decooroom for the charitable metamorphosis of the Urotherapy Studio at the Children’s Health Center

The award for exceptional social sensitivity and the creation of a space full of care, empathy and beauty goes to Decooroom for the charitable metamorphosis of the Urotherapy Studio at the Children’s Health Center in Warsaw. The award was received by the President of Decoroom, Adam Budzyński.

This year’s winners showed what the balance between human ambition and humility towards nature looks like in practice: in ecology, crafts, and in socially engaged projects.