In a city with a deep-rooted history in masonry and concrete, a quiet revolution is taking place. One built from timber, driven by community, and led by women.
Magdalena Pios, a pioneering architect based in Warsaw, is at the forefront of this transformation. As the founder of Ambient, a firm dedicated to sustainable architecture, she recently designed Warsaw’s very first public timber building and the city’s first Warsaw Green Building Standard (WGBS) certified project: the Choszczówka Library.
Through her work, Magdalena is proving that the future of the construction sector in Poland is far more diverse, ecological, and human-centred than many might expect.
The “Aha!” Moment: From commercial concrete to bio-based design
Magdalena’s journey into clean construction was born out of a personal search for meaning. After graduating from the Warsaw University of Technology and gaining years of experience working for a commercial developer, she began to feel a disconnect between her day-to-day work and her values.
The turning point happened during her daily commute. “Every day I had to pass by an old wooden building in Praga Północ, which is the most neglected district of Warsaw,” she recalls. “I was thinking, I’m going to work, and I will have to design something, but somehow I don’t feel that it’s right.”
Driven by curiosity, she commissioned a photographer friend to help document Warsaw’s remaining wooden buildings. This culminated in a public exhibition. It was a passion project that reignited her love for the sensory experience of timber; the unique smell, the warmth of the touch, and the peaceful atmosphere it creates. This realisation prompted her to pursue postgraduate studies in timber building in Switzerland and ultimately shift her career entirely toward ecological architecture.
Building for the community: The Choszczówka Library
When the opportunity arose to design the Choszczówka Library, Magdalena saw a chance to return to the historical tradition of wooden architecture that once defined Warsaw’s suburbs.
However, introducing a bio-based public building in a market unaccustomed to timber was no small feat. While Magdalena found crucial support from the district mayor, she notes that breaking the initial market barrier was the ultimate challenge.
I think getting the first timber public building off the ground is the most difficult. Now that one timber public building exists in Warsaw, hopefully, the next many will be even easier because they can point to this example and say, look, it’s possible.
Beyond its pioneering materials, the library was fundamentally shaped around the human experience and inclusive design. The building preserves the natural neighborhood paths that local residents use to walk their dogs or reach the train station, and it maintains a deep connection with the existing greenery. Inside, natural linoleum and wood acoustic insulation create a calming, welcoming environment.
Crucially, the library provides a free, accessible space for everyone. Whether it is teenagers needing a place to hang out after school, elderly residents reading the newspaper, or wheelchair users navigating the carefully designed aisles, the building fosters equity by offering a safe, calm space open for communities to enjoy.
Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry
The construction sector in Poland, much like the rest of the world, remains heavily male-dominated, particularly at the leadership level of architectural firms. Despite this, Magdalena has successfully navigated the space by maintaining a fierce focus on her goals.
For other women architects aiming to design ambitious sustainability projects, her advice is rooted in intuition and perseverance.
My advice would be to follow your feelings and do what you really feel you should. Having this commitment to what you believe is the right thing helps you maintain persistence in seeing it through.
A ripple effect across Warsaw
The success of the Choszczówka Library serves as a powerful proof-of-concept. It has catalysed a noticeable shift in how the city and other Polish architects view timber construction.
“Now, every architectural competition for a library in Warsaw sees submissions of many projects in wood,” Magdalena shares with a smile. “The city is promoting wood, district governments are not afraid anymore of using wood, and people like these buildings.”
As Warsaw’s clean construction movement evolves from a simple focus on winter energy efficiency to a holistic understanding of sustainable materials, leaders like Magdalena Pios are ensuring that the transition is not just about lowering carbon emissions. It’s about building resilient, inclusive, and deeply human spaces for the future.