Stefan Kuryłowicz
Encyclopedia
Stefan Marian Kuryłowicz (March 26, 1949 - June 6, 2011) was a Polish
architect
and professor
who is widely credited with transforming the architecture
and skyline
of Warsaw, Poland, in the twenty years following the collapse of Communism in 1989. Media reports have called Kuryłowicz "one of the most influential Polish architects." He and the late architect Jacek Syropolski created the architectural firm
, Kurylowicz & Associates.
Kuryłowicz was born in Warsaw in 1949. He earned a degree in architecture
from the Warsaw University of Technology
in 1972. He opened an architectural studio
in 1983 during an era when the Communist-ruled government of the People's Republic of Poland
openly discouraged free expression and creativity
.
The end of Communist rule in Poland in 1989 left Warsaw and other cities with littered wuth unimaginative, Communist-era buildings and other structures. Kuryłowicz and his associate architects began designing and constructing a series of new, modern building throughout Warsaw over the next two decades, largely transforming parts of the Warsaw, as well as other cities, such as Gdańsk
. His style of modern architecture initially attracted some criticism, but Kurylowicz's critics faded as his buildings were constructed. Kurylowicz's projects included commercial
, industrial
and residential buildings. His work has been credited with modernizing Warsaw during the post-Communist era. Jerzy Grochulski, the president of the Association of Polish Architects, said of Kurylowicz, "He helped shape the way Warsaw looks today." Kuryłowicz's firm is currently constructing a municipal studio in Białystok and the Wolf Bracka department store
.
In addition to his architectural practice, Kuryłowicz taught architecture at Warsaw University of Technology
and served as the deputy leader of the Association of Polish Architects. He was also picked as one of the international architects chosen to oversee renovations on the United Nations Headquarters
in New York City
.
Stefan Kuryłowicz died in a small plane crash in Asturias
, northern Spain, on June 6, 2011, at the age of 62. Kuryłowicz was flying in a convoy of three small planes enroute from San Sebastián
, Spain
, to the Portuguese
town of Vilar de Luz, near Porto
, when the accident occurred. The planes encountered inclement weather
, including rain and foggy, during the flight. One plane crashed into a parking lot
at an airport
in Asturias, while the second plane crashed into a hill near the same airport. Kurylowicz, his associate architect Jacek Syropolski, and two other people were killed in the accident. The third airplane, carrying two people, landed safely at airport in Santander, Cantabria
.
Kuryłowicz was survived by his wife, Ewa Kuryłowicz, a board member of his architectural firm
, and two sons.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
who is widely credited with transforming the architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
of Warsaw, Poland, in the twenty years following the collapse of Communism in 1989. Media reports have called Kuryłowicz "one of the most influential Polish architects." He and the late architect Jacek Syropolski created the architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
, Kurylowicz & Associates.
Kuryłowicz was born in Warsaw in 1949. He earned a degree in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
from the Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
in 1972. He opened an architectural studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
in 1983 during an era when the Communist-ruled government of the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
openly discouraged free expression and creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
.
The end of Communist rule in Poland in 1989 left Warsaw and other cities with littered wuth unimaginative, Communist-era buildings and other structures. Kuryłowicz and his associate architects began designing and constructing a series of new, modern building throughout Warsaw over the next two decades, largely transforming parts of the Warsaw, as well as other cities, such as Gdańsk
Gdansk
Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the centre of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay , in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the...
. His style of modern architecture initially attracted some criticism, but Kurylowicz's critics faded as his buildings were constructed. Kurylowicz's projects included commercial
Commercial building
A commercial building is a building that is used for commercial use. Types can include office buildings, warehouses, or retail . In urban locations, a commercial building often combines functions, such as an office on levels 2-10, with retail on floor 1...
, industrial
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
and residential buildings. His work has been credited with modernizing Warsaw during the post-Communist era. Jerzy Grochulski, the president of the Association of Polish Architects, said of Kurylowicz, "He helped shape the way Warsaw looks today." Kuryłowicz's firm is currently constructing a municipal studio in Białystok and the Wolf Bracka department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
.
In addition to his architectural practice, Kuryłowicz taught architecture at Warsaw University of Technology
Warsaw University of Technology
The Warsaw University of Technology is one of the leading institutes of technology in Poland, and one of the largest in Central Europe. It employs 2,453 teaching faculty, with 357 professors . The student body numbers 36,156 , mostly full-time. There are 17 faculties covering almost all fields of...
and served as the deputy leader of the Association of Polish Architects. He was also picked as one of the international architects chosen to oversee renovations on the United Nations Headquarters
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Stefan Kuryłowicz died in a small plane crash in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, northern Spain, on June 6, 2011, at the age of 62. Kuryłowicz was flying in a convoy of three small planes enroute from San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, to the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
town of Vilar de Luz, near Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, when the accident occurred. The planes encountered inclement weather
Weather
Weather is the state of the atmosphere, to the degree that it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Weather refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity, whereas climate...
, including rain and foggy, during the flight. One plane crashed into a parking lot
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
at an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Asturias, while the second plane crashed into a hill near the same airport. Kurylowicz, his associate architect Jacek Syropolski, and two other people were killed in the accident. The third airplane, carrying two people, landed safely at airport in Santander, Cantabria
Santander, Cantabria
The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community and historical region of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain. Located east of Gijón and west of Bilbao, the city has a population of 183,446 .-History:...
.
Kuryłowicz was survived by his wife, Ewa Kuryłowicz, a board member of his architectural firm
Architectural firm
An architectural firm is a company which employs one or more licensed architects and practices the profession of architecture.- History :Architects have existed since early in recorded history. The earliest recorded architects include Imhotep and Senemut . No writings exist to describe how these...
, and two sons.