Witold Milewski, one of the more prominent creators of Poznan architecture during the communist era, has died. The 91-year-old architect died on Wednesday, September 29. Among other things, he was co-author of many successful modernist buildings and university complexes. He also designed the controversial Przemysl Castle, which stood in the Old Town in the past decade.
Witold Milewski was born in Poznań in 1930. In this city he studied at the National Engineering School (diploma 1953), later continuing his studies at the Wroclaw University of Technology (master's degree 1959). From 1952 he was employed at the Poznan Miastoprojekt, where he first worked on the reconstruction of the Old Town, and later specialized in designing schools and university buildings. He did his student internship at the construction site of Poznan's famous Okrąglak by Marek Leykam. He often cited a story about a toe crushed by one of the prefabs. In later years he closely watched the changes made to the iconic building and commented critically and expertly on them.
In "Miastoprojekt" he most often worked together with Zygmunt Skupniewicz, with whom he designed, among others, a number of elementary schools in Poznań and Greater Poland, as well as student houses: including Jowita (the so-called Accumulators, realized: 1964) and Eskulap (1973). In the mid-1960s, the duo was joined by Lech Sternal. The three of them formed the Higher Schools Studio in Miastoprojekt, which created most of the university buildings built during the communist era: including the Collegium Novum of the Adam Mickiewicz University (1968), the very successful campus of today's University of Life Sciences (1960s and 1970s), and two buildings verging on brutalism for the Poznan University of Technology for the faculties of Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering (realization: 1970s). All projects are characterized by simplicity, functionality and - usually - skillful handling of scale.
urban icons
The campuses designed by the Studio have been partially realized, and the design of a similar premise for the Medical Academy has not lived to see realization. However, the skyscraper Collegium Altum of today's University of Economics, designed by Milewski and his team, is the most prominent in the city space (design 1973, realization: 1991, 1995). Standing in the center, the distinctive red building is still the tallest building in the city. A major renovation of its facade, consulted recently with Milewski, is just finishing.
In addition to the universities, the team of Milewski, Skupniewicz and Sternal created one of the most interesting and successful buildings of post-war Poznań modernism - the Veteran's House (now DPS Ugory, design: 1965, construction: 1972), a low terraced building perfectly integrated into its green surroundings, which in recent years has undergone unfavorable but - fortunately - reversible alterations. In 2004, together with Lech Sternal and Zygmunt Skupniewicz, Milewski was awarded the Honorary Award of the Poznań branch of SARP for lifetime achievement.
In recent years, however, Milewski has been associated primarily not with modernism, but with a very controversial project in the historical spirit. We are talking about the Castle of Przemysl erected from scratch on the foundations of a medieval building that had been absent from the city for several centuries. Drawing on Gothic and Renaissance forms, the project won a competition held in 2003. The building with its heavily topped tower was completed ten years later. It now houses the Museum of Applied Arts.
Active to the end
Almost to the end of his life Milewski was active and keenly interested in Poznań, Poland and the reality around him. He also remained faithful to his passion: sport aviation. Even in retirement, he learned to use architectural design programs. On a regular basis, he commented in kind on planning decisions and the quality of new architecture, wrote letters to local editors, and called journalists and friends on issues he considered important.
Milewski will be remembered not only as the author of very good university buildings, but also as a designer actively involved in matters of architecture and urbanism in contemporary Poznań. He was also very strongly associated with SARP, and was actively involved in its affairs until the end," recalls the president of the Poznań branch of SARP, Wojciech Krawczuk.
He nurtured old acquaintances and friendships. In his apartment in one of Winograd's housing estates, he willingly hosted friends and publicists - always ready to talk about architecture, history and his life. In recent months he donated part of his extensive archive to the Poznan branch of SARP.
