City center for students

There are currently 1.2 million students studying in Poland, but the eight largest academic centres only offer 82,000 places in halls of student housing. Who can get a place in a dormitory and how much does it cost? Once students manage to get a place, how can they survive in such conditions? What are the alternatives?

Students and young adults are among the most vulnerable groups in the housing market. They are facing a shortage of university accommodation, a lack of affordable housing and exploitation by private landlords. Meanwhile, city centres that once buzzed with youthful energy are becoming increasingly gentrified and financially inaccessible. Yet these areas remain vibrant and noisy – perhaps an ideal environment for young people?

Students design for students

Students designed the Student Quarter on Plac Defilad, next to the Palace of Culture and Science, the Museum of Modern Art and the new Central Square. For the realization of affordable housing for young people, we chose the most central and one of the most expensive plots of land in Poland. The manifesto behind the project: we must stop pushing young people to suburban campuses and bring student life back to the city center. And above all, we must start building more public and affordable student housing and infrastructure.

The exhibition is being shown in ZODIAK pavilion in a direct proximity of the Plac Defilad site. A debate on the topic of student housing is planned as an accompanying event with the architects, student union activists and representatives of the local government responsible for housing.

The exhibition we will also present selected student projects for housing solutions in other locations in Warsaw, including the Szpiegowo (Spy Town) building and the plot next to the Bakalarska market.

The exhibition is the result of work of students at the Inclusive Housing Studio, Faculty of Architecture, FAVUT Brno during the summer semester 2023/2024 studio.

Side events:

• 8.03 – 6 p.m. – Opening of the exhibition