Jan Karpiel-Bułecka & Marcin Steindel

Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?

We have two studios – one in Kraków and one in Zakopane, but Zakopane is our home. It’s the place that shapes us. Here, we rewrite the highland building tradition into a more contemporary language. We’re inspired by the Tatra Mountains and the whole Podhale region.

Where is your studio located & how does it look?

Our Zakopane office is housed in a historic building designed in a style that draws on the region, while our Kraków studio is in a modern office building. Although we’re split between two cities, the team works as one.

Are there any projects that are personally important to you—whether recently completed or currently in progress?

A project that’s especially important to us right now is a residence on Lake Como, in Bellagio.

We’ve already received approval from the architecture commission and are now waiting for the regional permit. It will be an exclusive rental residence of a very high standard, with a beautiful garden.

Do you have a favorite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?

It’s always the mountains. We escape there whenever we can, in summer and in winter, and that’s where we find our inspiration. We also often go rock climbing when we get the chance. We were both competitive climbers once, and climbing still matters a great deal to us.

Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?

The biggest problem in our region, and it’s almost embarrassing to admit, is the overwhelming amount of advertising: billboards along the roads, ads on fences and buildings. Even though it doesn’t bother everyone, we keep fighting it – these ads block the view of the mountains and damage the landscape, and that landscape belongs to all of us. In the age of the internet, this kind of advertising no longer makes any sense. As a highlander, I’m ashamed of it.

In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years—and what has not?

Over the last five years, the quality of architecture and investors’ awareness has been steadily improving in our region. We used to try to imitate foreign styles, but today we increasingly look at our own tradition as something exceptional: something worth developing and preserving because it has a unique character. And that makes us glad.

Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers—whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?

We have a great many hidden gems here. Some of them, we can safely say, are world-class. There’s a wonderful Michelin-starred restaurant called “Giewont,” whose kitchen is built around local produce.

There are also many craftspeople keeping tradition alive: carpenters who build beautiful wooden houses using techniques that don’t require a single nail, along with outstanding joiners and luthiers. This is one of the most talented regions for craftsmanship in the world. It’s not unusual, either, to find someone who makes beautiful artistic furniture and then spends the evening making music, simply because they love it.

Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?

Podhale is one of the most innovative regions in Europe when it comes to geothermal energy, drawing hot water from deep underground. A well-developed network of boreholes and geothermal heating lets us use these local sources to heat buildings on a large scale.

Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?

We recommend the restaurant Giewont in Kościelisko, which combines traditional cuisine with a modern approach. We designed the building ourselves. It used to be a rather unremarkable piece of architecture, and turning it into something original and modern, yet firmly rooted in the region, was the challenge.

Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?

There are plenty of such shops, but above all it’s worth seeking out produce straight from local farmers – lamb, for instance, or local cheeses, including oscypek, which is made only between May and September and is protected by regional law.

What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?

The Ratunek app lets you call for TOPR mountain rescue quickly or automatically send rescuers the injured person’s exact GPS location. That means rescue teams can reach an accident site faster, especially in hard-to-reach mountain terrain. We climb in the mountains, and this app can save a life.

Beyond that, we don’t really have much time for apps day to day. The only one we use is Booking when we’re looking for a hotel.

Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?

When it comes to architecture, we follow everything happening in the field worldwide, among other things, keeping an eye on publications and platforms like Wallpaper and Archello.

Imagine you could be mayor for a year—what would you change?

First and foremost, we’d ban roadside advertising – that’s the first thing we’d do, without hesitation. We’d also restrict the number of tourist cars allowed into the centre of Zakopane, building shared car parks on the outskirts instead, with an electric rail line bringing people into the centre. These two changes would completely transform the town’s image and bring more peace and quiet for residents and visitors alike.

One last question: If you could choose another place to live—regardless of financial or time constrains—which one would you choose?

I used to think about this a lot, but today I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Zakopane is my place on earth.