The Faculty of Architecture at Białystok University of Technology has secured funding in a competition under the European Commission’s EU4Belarus programme for a research project entitled “Wooden architecture decoration of Central and Eastern Europe: a passing heritage” in the amount of EUR 78,637.19. The total value of the project was estimated at EUR 85,839.
The project “Wooden architectural decoration of Central and Eastern Europe: a passing heritage” primarily addresses the identification and classification of forms of ornamentation in wooden architecture, as well as, as a complementary issue, the dynamics of urban development of traditional wooden architectural complexes and their surroundings.
– The protection of endangered wooden heritage is a challenging issue; nevertheless, the project should contribute to improving the effectiveness of its protection and increasing public awareness in this area – says Assoc. Prof. Bartosz Czarnecki, DSc, PhD, Eng., Arch., Director of the Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture of Białystok University of Technology.
Research teams participating in the competition included researchers-émigrés from Belarus. One such person is Dr Yauhen Malikau, a historian collaborating with the Faculty of Architecture, who was forced to leave his hometown of Homiel several years ago. The team led by Assoc. Prof. Bartosz Czarnecki, DSc, PhD, Eng., Arch. also includes Assoc. Prof. Jarosław Szewczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Arch. from the Department of Residential Architecture and Urban Design.
– Three researchers with equal roles are involved in the project – explains Assoc. Prof. Bartosz Czarnecki. – Dr Yauhen Malikau focuses strictly on wooden ornamentation. For Prof. Jarosław Szewczyk, this is a continuation of research exploring traditional architecture, vernacular architecture, and architecture created from archaic or non-standard materials. I personally, apart from coordination, treat the project as an opportunity to study the contemporary urban dynamics of traditional wooden housing complexes and their surroundings.
Therefore, the main scientific objective of the project is the identification of mutual influences in shaping forms of traditional wooden architectural decoration in different parts of the broadly understood Central and Eastern European region. Prof. Czarnecki aims to integrate the community of researchers and practitioners working on wooden architectural heritage and ornamentation and to formulate conclusions regarding its dissemination and protection.
In addition to conducting research, the team plans to supplement, rewrite, translate and publish in Polish a scientific monograph by Dr Yauhen Malikau, and to organise an international scientific seminar in 2027.
– I am already inviting doctoral students and students to take part – says Prof. Czarnecki.
The project runs from March 2026 to September 2027. It is funded by the European Commission via the Lithuanian public Central Project Management Agency under the EU4BELARUS programme from the SALT III call – Academic research project grants. Project number: NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/444-419-0015.