Portugal - post-competition exhibition of student conservation works and public debate at the University of Beira Interior.

On May 29, at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Beira Interior in Covilha, the finissage of the exhibition of student competition works "Garagem de São João in Covilha - design concept and adaptation of the former garage with its surroundings for new functions" took place.

The competition was held in the winter semester 2024/25 at the Department of Theory, Design and History of Architecture of the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology in cooperation with the company BNX Investimentos, from Lisbon and the University of Beira Interior in Covilha.

The subject of the competition was to prepare a concept for the modernization and adaptation of the former modernist bus station in Covilha for new purposes, while maintaining its historic values.

The initiators and main organizers of the competition were: Professor of Architecture Magdalena Żmudzińska-Nowak (RAR-3), Dr. Architecture Mariana Couto de Oliveira (University of Beira Interior) and Marco Reina Costa - the owner of the facility and the head of the company BNX Investimentos from Lisbon.

Two design teams were awarded the main prize in the form of a trip to the finissage of the exhibition and participation in the final debate. They were: Paulina Miszczak, Karolina Supron (work done under the supervision of dr arch. Karolina Chodura) and Dorota Cichoń, Aleksandra Chylak (work done under the supervision of dr arch. Rafał Radziewicz-Winnicki)
4 distinctions were also awarded:
Oliwia Jagła, Magdalena Majsak (supervision: dr arch. Karolina Chodura)
Renata Hajduk, Natalia Ściora (supervision: dr arch. Elżbieta Rdzawska-Augustin)
Alicja Szedel, Krzysztof Szyjka (supervision: prof. arch. Magdalena Żmudzińska-Nowak)
Wiktoria Gałendek (supervision: dr arch. Magdalena Wałek)
All awarded and distinguished works were exhibited at the University of Beira Interior in Covilha from 1-31 May 2025.

The finissage of the exhibition and the final public debate took place on 29 May in the main hall University of Beira Interior with the participation of the organizers - prof. Magdalena Żmudzińska-Nowak and dr Magdalena Wałek WA PŚ, dr Mariana Couto de Oliveira UBI, the authorities of the city of Covilha including representatives of the planning department and the conservator of monuments - arch. Carolina Batitsta, the Investor - Marco Reina Costa BNX Investimentos, and the awarded students: Paulina Miszczak, Karolina Supron, Dorota Cichoń, Aleksandra Chylak, as well as the local media - Radio Covilha.
All the awarded and distinguished projects were presented, and then a very interesting discussion took place, the conclusions of which will probably contribute to saving the valuable object.

photo: M. Żmudzinska, M. Wałek, K. Supron, P. Miszczak

Zaprezentowane zostały wszystkie nagrodzone i wyróżnione projekty, a następnie odbyła się bardzo ciekawa dyskusja, z której wnioski zapewne przyczynią się do uratowania cennego obiektu.

foto: M.Żmudzinska, M. Wałek, K. Supron, P. Miszczak