Travel / Going to Tricity (Trojmiasto) soon. What to see, where to go - not so obvious but interesting places [14]

Hello. Well, I am not expert in tourism in the city but I know is possible to go to Westterplate (the place where 2nd world war started) - I havent been there yet. Also i was in Hel and Sobieczewo (both going by ferry) but i guess the weather wont be so great for visiting places close to the beach (unless you want to see the beach and eat tasty fishes cooking), but I am not sure if the places for food are still opened during this month. I also was in the Zoo, quite interesting in my opinion (as foreigner i saw some new animals). Also Oliwa is one option you havent mentioned. In addition, the others common places are quite fine (stare miasto, Sopot, Gdynia center). Wish you nice trip ;)

Work / Teaching Architecture in Poland [23]

Hello. Im also an architect living in Poland. I think it could be nice to make a group and talk about similar situations we need or have to do for adapting in working / living in Poland. Im from Peru.. Hope you could contact me to my mail here. Talk soon.

Real Estate / Who designs houses in Poland? [66]

I think polish architecture related to "houses" is not so interesting unless any architect will make something different in the style like the house from Robert Konieczny where is possible to apply a concept and develop this until getting a product that is not common and could appear in any architectonical magazine as happens with houses from other countries and mostly from USA. In my opinion there are many reasons for this situation and why is for now in this way. Some of them maybe are related to the not big architectonical development during communist time, as people just got what they needed. But after this came all new and now new things are being done. Also there are many old houses and neighborhoods that dont renovate as polish society doesnt have such need in comparison to other societies in the world where they need more new buildings for people. About designs, in last time i see that there are some changes....new modern buildings appearing everywhere but not much in the "houses" field. About apartments I think i have seen some interesting things at least that show Poland is moving forward to new modern architecture (like Sea Towers, maybe some people dont like but at least is something different), but still is necessary to do more. I believe that where architects can make the difference is innovating...because if not, as someone else posted....in the future could be enough to buy plans of something already designed. And adding to this it doesnt depend only in architect (to try to innovate) also in society, so i just hope architects could still have a job now and later :)

Real Estate / Who designs houses in Poland? [66]

Well. Thanks for some answers to my points. I would like to say that I am not trying to make any rule :D just to say my opinion. Its sure that in other countries with different situations we can have "other types of modern architecture" and the situation is also different. I could mention that in my country until some years ago the most popular standard was to have a house - including the land. As result people like my grandfather who didnt have any well paid salary was able to make a house in 2 levels about 120 m2. Also in the society where I lived many conditions caused this, as the economy is not the same as in Europe, lack of urban planning and spontaneous growing in the city during more than 50 years. Recently the apartment's business is going on and specially your people is accessing to new flats... some of them with good designs, others copied architecture, and other simple blocks like from any polish neighborhood done during 70's. So i have seen lots of qualities and types coexisting in the same city. Anyway comparing now with a wealthy society as in Dubai, where all the money from the oil controls everything.... designs and architecture are for sure in another level. And yes city-planners have some influence... but architects in my opinion, should convince them of "making something better" so its some our fault not to change this wit a wise method.

Btw, i would like to show a video - animated and funny - that explains how the boom of construction happened in Spain - and also the problems that this caused because their own economical situation. The problem is that is in spanish so dont know if everybody will understand but try as graphics are very explicit.

...
Hope similar problems wont happen with the boom in construction in my country or in Poland :D at least people is still having a job.

Real Estate / Who designs houses in Poland? [66]

I think the idea about this thread was to give ideas about the quality of the architecture in the topic of "houses" in Poland. If we are going to judge architecture in general could be better to create another thread. And adding to this to judge mistakes also is senseless. My opinion about how influences an investor in architecture is quite similar as the example from "pantsless". Unfortunately in any society money controls everything and to get the maximum profit investing the less is quite a rule for everybody. Anyway, trying to keep and optimistic thought as i said before it depends in architects to convince investors in doing things in favor of a better architecture. I don't think that top architects like Norman Foster pass trough this situations as their salaries are already over the average architects in the world and for the same reason investor are in the same condition so they wont care to spend more money to get something with more quality or expensive materials (if they are necessary or not is not my business). I remember once i read in Dubai they made a christmas tree for an important shopping center or hotel all in gold. So i don't think they cared about costs in such case. Adding to this the architecture also doesn't need to have very expensive materials to be defined as good or modern architecture...thats why architects can look for options according to the need of the clients and at the same time trying to get a good quality product... at the end everybody deserves to be satisfied.

Real Estate / Who designs houses in Poland? [66]

I think these columns have some more artistic development than the polish house.

Unfortunately in our time, our way of designing - as general point of view - hasn't developed a system to use the ornaments and other small elements that we can find in the old architecture and sometimes are possible to use as concept to integrate old buildings with new ones.

Law / Applying for Polish citizenship through marriage. [116]

I think as they said law is the law. I just got my temporary residence permit decision for 2 years. I have been already here 1 year (with other temporary permit) but i started the procedure for 2nd permit too late because in the urzad they asked me some papers that i didn't know (about taxes, and court decisions from my country). This was some silly as later they told me this wasn't necessary as i didn't come back to my country during last year. So it was a waste of time and energy. The problem with applying after the 45 days before is that i was outside the time for the procedure. This didn't represent a problem with staying here - as married with polish citizen, they cant kick you out even if you are in illegal condition. So this happened to me, because this problem with time, i was like 12 days illegally (nobody hunting me hehehe) and later i got the decision: yes for the 2 years. As consequence of the interrupted time, its like my counting years starts in zero... so i lost the year i have already been here. As recommendation for people who wants to avoid these problem with the counting years: try to do everything according the rules and be aware about this always, don't leave everything for the last moment. Wish everybody luck here... I still cant get a job. Btw I am also thinking about importing exporting something from my country as there are many interesting products, just i have zero experience in this field and don't know what polish people could like from exotic country as Peru. Greeting to everybody.

Real Estate / Who designs houses in Poland? [66]

No they arent. Are from Spain - Sacred Family.
I could try to look for something from my country. But well, i think in past people didnt developed columns and works were in stone and earth materiales in other areas. One example of a door entrance in a complex: arqueologiadelperu.com.ar/vilcas04.jpg

....and later Spanish people came with their old model of houses..some of them existing until today.

So the columns were as i know ornaments not part of the constructive system. I could find for more picture from personal property to make a topic just i dont know if people could be interested in this.

Anyway, i studied about houses in architecture to make my thesis projects. Its a complex topic with many varied points of view according to each society. There are much inspiration sources too, well.. thats why architecture should be fun and creativity instead of making copies :D so as many of us mentioned here, sometimes it doesnt bring the best result.

Law / Applying for Polish citizenship through marriage. [116]

Hi Simo007 thanks for the best wishes. In fact, in my case i am not looking for any citizenship as I am proud of my country and dont have any negative feeling to it. I also love a lot my wife, and I am very happy to be with her here together. Unfortunately as I mentioned in my condition of foreigner is hard to access to normal job, and i assume for everybody it would be nice to develop normal life (having normal job, and do other things) so i look forward for this now and coming future. I am architect so obviously my options for job are some limited and for this reason i wrote about "what else could i do using my foreigner background" as it has resulted to Rodrigo with the import&export business. Hope also things are going well for you and everybody.

Law / Applying for Polish citizenship through marriage. [116]

I think that nobody here is in the condition to say that there is a country or citizenship better than other. As societies are different, people inside the society are different, cultural backgrounds are different and personalities are different too, so everywhere we can have good and bad. I suggest some members here to calm down about some issues/personal problems they could have. To get Polish nationality can have advantages as the advantages that other nationality could give in other situation to other person in the world. I dont think there are 2nd class people so hope whose have 2nd class minds wont make more comments in negative way.

And about the procedures i think this depends mainly on the skills of every person and the wish of them in resolving problems. I am careless about getting any nationality for now, my priorities are to develop first life with stability, so any paperwork for more resident permits in future will de done as i will want it to be. Greetings and peace.

Work / Hungarian guy looking for job - planing to become a student at Politechnika Gdanska [13]

Hard to get a job around here without polish. Try in Reuters as sometimes they ask for people who has knowledge in other languages.

Work / Cheap Labour in Poland - why is there a problem with unemployment in PL? [16]

Well i think if we are going to talk about prices of houses/apartments we could start a new topic. I know where to get a better price for homes with an average salary (in my country the currency is the same as in Poland).... anyway not in Poland/ not in Europe (land is cheaper and you have the same services). In my opinion all this system of underemployment happens everywhere around the world, with latins in Spain, asiatic people in Dubai, in past turkish going to Germany, etc. Which I consider important are the rules that the government can give to companies/employers (like someone mentioned the taxes/ insurances are very expensive), so with different rules the internal market would be more competitive and people well educated + other generations would have a better possibility for a job. There is the case of countries like Canada or Australia where they want/need to get people foreigner educated as their job market has this need (just personal opinion) but this is not a rule and for sure people from these countries also is free to go anywhere else they want. Adding to this, my wife is polish and I am foreigner, we both are well educated, so I dont think all polish girls are stupid :D for sure there are some as everywhere in the world.

USA, Canada / Sending money to Poland from the USA? [48]

I use Moneygram, i get the money in the post in zlotys. Obviously according to the value of dollar it can be more or less sometimes so for me its a gamble. I dont have other cheaper option. I consider bank transfer expensive... maybe it works better for transfer from other countries.

UK, Ireland / "If it's not Polish, it's shite" - What is great about Polish Beer in UK? [78]

I like Zywiec :D after trying like 16 types of beer here... polish brands. But sincerely, to judge the best is hard to do as we couldnt try all beers in the world.

There are many international rankings online.

UK, Ireland / "If it's not Polish, it's shite" - What is great about Polish Beer in UK? [78]

I bought some beers in Biedronka...cant remember the names, but better I wont buy beers there anymore.
I found one link with some winner beers 2011 in many categories:

worldbeerawards.com/2011/

Work / Maritime, logistics and forwarding jobs in Tricity (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot) [2]

Check Akademia Morska in Gdynia, they have many studies related to the sea and ships/port jobs.
About transport depending how often you will use you can get a transport card for every month. For sure is very convenient to live closer to where you will study.

Food depends in how greedy you are. Flats the same if you need a big space to develop your activities.
Greetings and good luck.

Travel / Whats your favourite Polish city and why? [132]

Gdansk: Have Old Town, History, Sea, Trojmiasto park - trees, New Stadium for Euro :D, and if you want a change or need other things you are close to Sopot and Gdynia.