On July 30, 2025, in Okopy near Suchowola, the construction of the Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Museum was officially inaugurated. The new institution of remembrance will commemorate one of the most important figures in Polish history of the 20th century. Nizio Design International is responsible for the architectural design, permanent exhibition concept as well as interior design.
The ceremonial handover of the construction site from the Podlasie Museum in Białystok to the general contractor, Budimex SA, was preceded by a press conference. The symbolic groundbreaking was carried out by Father Jerzy's brother, Józef Popiełuszko, along with Marek Popiełuszko, president of the Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko “Dobro” Foundation. Following the site handover, demolition of the existing buildings on the designated plot began.
Constructed using gravel and crushed stone, the building is designed to evoke the simplicity and beauty of roadside chapels, rural homes and small churches. As Mirosław Nizio, the author of the concept, explains: We wanted to create a museum a house of remembrance in a universal, ascetic, and contemporary form.
In line with the architectural vision, the museum will be carefully integrated into the surrounding landscape of meadows and forests. The materials used, such as regionally typical aggregates and local gravel, will emphasize a natural connection with the site and will undergo a noble aging process over time.
At the heart of the museum complex will be the Contemplation Space: a raw, monolithic form composed of concrete blocks. Gaps between the elements will form a subtle, abstract symbol of the cross, quietly reminding visitors of light, presence, and hope. This will not be a museum in the traditional sense, but rather a space for contemplation, reflection, and communal gathering. After dusk, the building will glow like a stone lantern – quiet, yet powerful in its message.
The opening of the Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko Museum is scheduled for October 2027. It is one of the most significant museum projects in northeastern Poland, aiming not only to document the life and legacy of Fr. Jerzy but also to create a meaningful space for dialogue, spirituality, and community.
Photo credits: Krzysztof Lipiński & Podlasie Museum
