Iron principles

The concept of this type of building has gained international recognition – although Polish specialists are not so enthusiastic

Residential buildings constructed on light-weight steel frames are nothing new in Poland, though very few investments use this technology. An estate of single-family terraced homes in the Warsaw suburb of Białołęka is a pioneering project employing this technology. The modular houses produced by Buma, a Kraków-based company, were received with some enthusiasm in Great Britain, with one of their projects even being nominated as a finalist in the \\\\\\\'Home for 40 metres. That is why steel structures are most frequently used in erecting sports and industrial buildings."

Douglas Noble, director of Orco Poland, sums this point up succintly: "The decision to use steel or prefab concrete for the structure of a building must always be considered on a building by building basis. Almost every building is unique in some way. The decision on the type of structure will most frequently come down to the resulting costs, which vary depending on the market conditions of the day."

Nerves of steel

 Physical properties can, however, only been changed within certain limits defined by the rigid laws of physics. And any fight with nature is doomed to failure – and this is also the case with the mental resistance of customers.

According to Cezary Orzechowski of Mitex: "Structural steel used in the building industry is a relatively new product. In addition, the classical solutions used in residential construction have longstanding traditions." Michał Sadowski of APA Wojciechowski adds that: "There is a deeply rooted conviction in the human mind that the construction of homes is only acceptable if implemented with the use of so-called natural materials. It is rather difficult to convince a customer that steel is a natural material. On the other hand, steel is recognised as an ecological material due to the possibility of recycling, of production employing regained materials while unwanted elements can be reused."

Marta Dziarnowska poses the rhetorical question: "Are Poles so terribly conservative?" And replies: "Just look at the young generation which lives fast and adapts to novelties with a similar speed and quickly wants to make use of them. Steel offers such possibilities. Tenants want to live in buildings with an interesting architecture and well arranged interiors – and they want to get the keys to their apartments or houses as quickly as possible. Both a \\\\\\\'Polish manor\\\\\\\' and a house with a super-modern shape can be built out of steel, since both will be peaceful, warm and comfortable."