RESEARCH



THE SANATORIUM
Duo research project with 166.BRUT/Rachel Refael
Architecure, Urbanism,  Architectural History
2025-

supported by:  Creative Industries Fund: Design Sector Kick-start Grant Scheme



This project examines the contrasting visions of socialist and capitalist systems regarding labour, pleasure, and productivity. 

It focuses on Eastern Bloc work culture, rooted in collective, state-regulated leisure, and its intersection with Western European capitalist structures, particularly within migrant labour. 

in progress



ARCHITECTURAL LABOUR
Collective
Architecure, Labour, Organising 
2024 - 


supported by: Creative Industries Fund: Design Sector Internationalization Grant Scheme,
LINA Community
The research focueses on the often invisible conditions of architectural labour and the systems that shape how we build today. 

Through research and public organising, it makes these dynamics visible and supports workers in developing fairer collective practices.


MIGRANT PRODUCTION OF SPACES
Independent research project
Architecure, Urbanism, Anthorpology, Sociology
2025

supported by:  Adam Mickiewicz Institute: Polish Culture Abroad Grant Scheme
Migrant production of spaces focuses on the Easter European migrants working in architecture and construction industries in the western Europe.

It investigates how Eastern European migrant workers shape Western architecture through labour, adaptation, and everyday life.



BLOEIENDE BROEDPLAATSEN 2/2

THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE
Exhibition curation and map design
Dutch Design Week 2022
Location: Temporary Art Center, Eindhoven
Part of Bloeiende Broedplaatsen Research by Fontys, TU/e, TAC
The exhibition ‘This is where we make’ took place at TAC (Temporary Art Center) during Dutch Design Week 2022. The exhibition curation and map design were committed to showcase the results of co-production of TAC, TU/e Urban Labs and Fontys Hogescholen, as a conclusion to their joint research project ‘Bloeiende Broedplaatsen’. The maps were designed to present the research results in a clear way, merging the quantitative data with the spatial structure of The Netherlands.

The project was done in collaboration with Studio of Things and displayed work of Mirte van Duppen and Timothy Liu.
The researched was further presented and elaborated within a publication distributed during the Dutch Design Week.



BLOEIENDE BROEDPLAATSEN 1/2

KEEP ME IN EINDHOVEN
Design Project
Scale: Urbanism
Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Part of Bloeiende Broedplaatsen Research by Fontys, TU/e, TAC
2021
Apart from the high-tech industries, Eindhoven is made of many cultural institutions and what is most important, people of cultural scene.

 However, many of the people plan to stay in Eindhoven only for short term periods, as the city offers a lot in terms of education but leaves with few opportunities of professional life. Therefore, many great and skilled people leave Eindhoven after about two years and try to pursuit their careers in other cities, mostly in Rotterdam. 

The project calls for spatial change. The proposal merges the two great forces of Eindhoven, but the merge goes beyond a conversation and applies pilot spatial development within the biggest scientific force of the city – High Tech Campus.




CATANIA : LA CITTÀ NERA
Group design project research with  Marije De Boer , Kevin Pulles, Niels Genee
Scale: Architecture and  Urbanism
Location: Catania, Italy
2022
Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, at the base of the Mount Etna, Catania has long been subject to the island’s powerful natural forces, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Over the centuries, these challenges have led to significant spatial transformations and adaptations within the city.


This research, forming the foundation for a potential design intervention, focuses on the  historical evolution of Catania's waterfront. By examining key sections where land meets water,  we highlight the most critical transitions and the persistent difficulties in integrating the city's  marine environment with its Baroque- and later- urban structures
Anna Mańka
she/her
nl-pl

Originally from Poland and currently based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, she is an independent spatial practitioner and researcher examining politics, labour, and production across different scales of the built environment. She holds a dual master’s degree in Architecture and Urbanism from Eindhoven University of Technology.

In her practice, she questions the contemporary labour dynamics and the pursuit of limitless growth within the built environment. Her work explores the intersections of migration, labour, and architecture, with a particular focus on the experiences of Eastern European workers in Western Europe. Currently,  she also works within the field of IT in the built environment, engaging with digital tools such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and data environments that mediate design and construction processes. She is actively involved in advocating for labour rights within the architectural profession, both in the Netherlands and internationally.

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Education
 2020-23 - EINDHOVEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (NL)
Master Degree in Architecture and Urbanism / Dual Track
Department of the Built Environment

2015-19 - GDAŃSK UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (PL)
Bachelor Degree in Architecture
Faculty of Architecture

2017-18 - HASSELT UNIVERSITY (BE)
Erasmus Exchange
Faculty of Architecture and Arts
Tutoring 2025 ROTTERDAM ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE (NL)
Research Tutor - Urbanism - MA level

2020-22 - EINDHOVEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (NL)
Student Assistant - BA level

2015-22 - DOMIN GDAŃSK DRAWING STUDIO (PL)
Hand drawing tutor / Online drawing course producer
Exhibitions
2025 ORGANIZING IN THE LOBBY |
VENICE BIENNALE (IT)
Contribution

2025 TAKING MORE THAN WHAT’S THERE TO GIVE |
LISBON ARCHITECTURE TRIENNALE (PT)
& VI PER GALLERY PRAGUE (CZ)
group exhibition 

2022 THIS IS WHERE WE MAKE |
TEMPORARY ART CENTER (NL)
exhibition design and curation
Presented during Dutch Design Week 2022

2021 ARTISTIC HEROES LIKE YOU (NL)
group exhibition - own work

2020 INTERNATIONAL DIGITALKUNST FESTIVAL (-)
group exhibition

2020 DUTCH DESIGN WEEK (NL)
own work

2019 THE WRONG BIENNALE (-)
group exhibition

2019 DUTCH DESIGN WEEK (NL)
own work

Public Engagement
2025 COP30 | People’s Summit (BR)
speaker

2025 EINDHOVEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (NL) 
lecture
 
2025 ARCHITECTURE WORKERS’ INTERNATIONAL
VENICE ASSEMBLY (IT)
speaker

2025 ROTTERDAM ARCHITECTURE MONTH (NL)
facilitator 

2025 DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (NL)
lecture

2025 UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON (UK)
research presentation
Domesticity Under Siege conference

2025 ARCHITEKT*INNENGEWERKSCHAFT (DE)
guest speaker 

2025 ARCHITECTURAL WORKERS’ INTERNATIONAL (-)
moderator, speaker 

2024 LINA Conference 2024 (BIH)
speaker
Panel: Transmitting the city and modern anomalies

2024 INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE
ROTTERDAM (NL)
speaker
Practice Place: Work, Labour, Action!
Architects Climate Action Network NL Launch
Climate crisis in the workplace

2020 antyRAMA (PL)
speaker
Text
2025 HACKING THE CITY: ARCHITECTURAL WORKERS IN VENICE
 JigSAW Issue #2

2025 LEAVING HOME FOR HOME, MIGRATION, LABOUR AND CONSTRUCTION OF POLISH DOMESTIC SPACES
Domesticity Under Siege Conference

2025 ON THE PITFALLS OF OPTIMISM AND THE BENEFITS
OF BEING ANGRY (NL)
Archined

Awards, Grants
2025 CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FUND (NL)
Design Sector Kick-start Grant Scheme

2025 ADAM MICKIEWICZ INSTITUTE (PL)
Polish Culture Abroad Grant Scheme

2024 CREATIVE INDUSTRIES FUND (NL)  
Design Sector Internationalization Grant Scheme

2021 BEE BREEDERS’ DESIGN COMPETITION SERIES (-)
Shortlisted

2020 A<24 - ARCHITECTURE COMPETITION (PL)
1st PLACE              


Proffessional experience2022 - now BIMcollab/Kubus BV (NL, CH, AT)

2021 - DE BEVER ARCHITECTEN (NL)
Student Internship

2019 - 20 - ZEME ATELIER (-)
3D Design Project

2019 - ARCHITEKTURBÜRO LEINHÄUPL+NEUBER (DE)
Internship
Last Updated: 2025

DESIGN


HOUSE OF ALL
Master Thesis (dual)
Graduation studio ‘The Intermediate and the Porous City’
Scale: Architecture and Urbanism
Location: The Hague, The Netherlands
Eindhoven University of Technology 
2022/2023
The project is based on the condition of a new political system combining existing representative democracy with principles of direct democracy, resulting in a democratic model based on participation. It exercises the new spatial expression of the system and its influence on the public domain.The research part of the work is covering the current political structure of the Netherlands, the origins of the city of The Hague, The Binnenhof (its current parliament building) and the functioning of one of its bodies – The House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer). 

The design part is divided into two assignments. The first one focuses on the political landscae of The Hague and the second one exercises the new system directly on The Binnenhof building and elaborates the architectural scale.




THE REINTERPRETATION OF THE FABRIC
Design Project
Scale: Architecture + Urbanism
Location: Palermo, Italy
Eindhoven University of Technology
2018
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PORTA SEGURO - SLEEPING PODS
Competition Entry
@ De Bever Architecten with: Ioana Birgaoanu, Stefania Pojar, Stefan de Bever
Shortlisted
2021

 The Porto Seguro sleeping pods in Vale de Moses embody the safe retreat between the lush slopes of the valley, the place of relief from the quotidian. They provide physical and mental comfort to the visitors, by immersing them into the landscape and by nurturing them only through what nature provides. This is achieved by the use and reuse of local materials, sun, wind and rainwater.

There are four main elements that compose each pod, based on the primary components of a primordial hut defined by Gottfried Semper: ‘the hearth, the enclosure, the mound and the roof’. The hearth is reinterpreted as a multi-functional wall which is the engine and the core of the house. Thus, the hearth defines the surrounding inner space, but allows it to remain clear of any clutter. A modular timber frame envelope intimately encloses the space and its panels can be replaced depending on site positioning. A lightweight timber structure surrounds once more the enveloped space, it lifts it from the ground and it rises an overhanging sloped roof above.




YELLOW POINT
Design Project
Scale: Master Plan + Architecture
Location - School complext in Genk, Belgium
Hasselt University
2018
This project transforms a former school complex in Genk, Belgium into a co-living hub, preserving its architectural and educational heritage. Instead of demolition, the design gives the buildings a new life, opening the previously closed-off square to the public and introducing a lively, shared atmosphere. 
Classrooms are repurposed into housing units and workshops, while a rooftop garden offers space for learning and community exchange. A bright yellow pavilion at the heart of the square functions as a café, drawing people in and connecting the site to its surroundings.

The project was developed through individual research, including fieldwork, interviews, and archive studies. The design was refined in two stages and presented publicly in Genk through an exhibition and group presentation.




THE LOOPED FACTORY
Design project
Scale: Architecture
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Eindhoven University of Technology
2020
The Looped Factory is a production facility for mycelium—an innovative, natural material that offers a sustainable alternative to many conventional resources. The design was developed through analysis of case studies of existing factories, literature research, and a close study of mycelium’s specific production process. Based on the product’s unique production line, the architecture supports the growth and transformation of this living material. 

The factory also rethinks the standard industrial model: instead of remaining closed off, the building’s volumes follow the silent process growth of the product.

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OVER:FLOW
Competition Entry
Scale: Urban intervention
A<24 Architecture Competition
1st Place
with K. Heyman and P. Czerklewicz
2020OVER:FLOW is a proposed retention solution for the final stage before water disappears from our sight. Mounted to a manhole, the column uses passive, eco-friendly solutions to prevent water from draining into the sewer system, while turning into a green urban sculpture. 

The proposed system uses the existing rainwater runoff system for manholes, easily blends into the urban fabric, and measures the problem of both quantity and quality of rainwater with the efficiency of a 30-meter rain garden where there is no room for it.




HOTEL
Bachelor End Project
Obtained title: Architect/ Engineer (inż. arch.)
Scale: Architecture
Location: Gdańsk, Poland
6th and 7th semester
Gdańsk University of Technology
2019
 Hotel Design is a graduation project at Gdańsk University of Technology. The building responds to a narrow, sloped site, shaping its form. It connects nature and people by providing accommodation and meeting spaces for university guests. Positioned at the campus edge, it welcomes visitors as a natural extension of the university. The façade acts as a semi-border between guests and surroundings, with two glass cuts offering views of the nature behind. 

The design process took place over two semesters: In the first semester, the work focused on site and program analysis, concept development, and compliance with Polish building law. In the second semester, the project was developed in detail, with architectural details designed for selected areas and preparation of project documentation.

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© Anna Manka  2025