On December 8, 2023, the Association of Polish Architects once again handed out the Bene Merentibus medals - a decoration awarded by SARP to individuals who have made special contributions to Polish architecture.
SARP's medals are awarded not only to architects, but also to people associated with architecture or institutions that have contributed to the development of architecture in Poland. The medal's chapter consisted of six people. It consisted of SARP President Agnieszka Kalinowska-Sołtys, SARP o. Częstochowa President and SARP Governing Council Secretary Hubert Wąsek, Chapter Secretary Marek Szeniawski, 2017 medal winner Jan Karpiel-Bułecka, 2015 medal winner Ewa Kuryłowicz and former SARP President Mariusz Ścisło. The chapter awarded the medal to three people.
From left, awardees: Zygmunt Stępiński, Zbigniew Moździerz, Slawomir Gzell.
© photo courtesy of SARP
The medal was awarded to Professor Slawomir Gzell, for his many years of teaching, his extensive scholarly output of one hundred and eleven articles and seven books, as well as five collective works. Professor Slawomir Gzell has devoted fifty years of professional work to architecture. In his scholarly activities he has studied, among other issues, the development of urban planning, the problem of reurbanization, and small towns. His latest book, "The Venetian Mirror. Biennale - International Architectural Exhibitions," focuses on the professor's reflections on the Venice Biennale.
Professor Slawomir Gzell
© photo courtesy of SARP
The second person awarded the medal is Professor Zbigniew Moździerz - a specialist in the protection of Podhale monuments - primarily creating conservation documentation for villas such as "Koliba," "Pod Jedlami" and "Oksza." Professor Moździerz also created conservation documentation for the chapel in Jaszczurówka. Among the laureate's scientific merits are studies of the style of Stanisław Witkiewicz or the spatial development of Zakopane. Above all, the chapter appreciated his steadfastness and determination in protecting the cultural heritage of Zakopane.
Professor Zbigniew Moździerz
© photographs courtesy of SARP
The third awardee was Zygmunt Stępiński, a publisher who was involved in architecture for many years. Zygmunt Stępinski was one of the few in the Association's history to be a member without an architecture degree. He was a member of the Polish Council of Architecture for many years. As of 2019, he is the director of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Zygmunt Stępiński
© photo courtesy of SARP
