We are proud to announce that Mirosław Nizio, founder of Nizio Design International, has been awarded the prestigious SARP “Bene Merentibus” medal. This honor, granted by the Association of Polish Architects (SARP) since 1979, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Polish architecture and the activities of the Association.
Laudation
The SARP “Bene Merentibus” medal, established by SARP, is a recognition from the architectural community of individuals whose passion, dedication, and work affirm that the quality, aesthetics, and durability of architecture, as well as respect for heritage and the natural environment, are fundamental values.
This year’s laureate, Mirosław Nizio, has achieved numerous successes as the creator of many outstanding projects. He is an expert in designing public spaces such as museums, exhibitions, memorials, and comprehensive concepts for revitalizing post-industrial and urban areas. He studied at the Faculty of Interior Design and Sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, as well as at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
In 1989, he established his own design company in the United States. He has received numerous awards and distinctions. In 2002, he moved his studio to a historic tenement house in Warsaw’s Praga district, where he founded the Nizio Gallery and the Nizio Foundation (formerly The Creators), fostering cultural activities within the Warsaw community. For years, the Nizio Gallery has supported young talents and emerging creators, showcased socially engaged art, promoted architecture and music, and organized numerous cultural events involving both children and seniors.
The Nizio Gallery was established in 2002 in a tenement house at 3 Inżynierska Street in Warsaw’s Praga-Północ district. The foundation of this unique post-industrial exhibition space lies in enabling a broad exchange of ideas surrounding art, culture, architecture, and social initiatives.
The Gallery, created by the laureate, presents contemporary art. Its collaborating curators organize exhibitions of painting, photography, design, and applied arts. The diverse curatorial approaches characteristic of the space enable dialogue with various creative communities. The multitude of interests, also reflected in intergenerational exchanges, highlights the Gallery’s key universal values in architecture and art.
The Gallery organizes numerous events showcasing the artistic achievements of contemporary creators from Poland and abroad. Particular attention is given to young artists, initiating and supporting activities aimed at developing and popularizing new cultural trends.
This year, the SARP “Bene Merentibus” jury awarded this prestigious distinction to Mirosław Nizio for his achievements as a patron of culture, promoting architecture and art as disciplines essential to the development of contemporary society. Through his work, the laureate upholds timeless values such as truth, trust, community, and beauty—principles respected and enshrined in the statutes of the Association of Polish Architects.
Other 2024 awardees
The SARP “Bene Merentibus” medal was also awarded to:
- Dr. Eng. Arch. Romuald Maksymilian Loegler,
- Kazimierz Ferenc (posthumously).
The 2024 Honorary Award of SARP was presented to architects Przemo Łukasik and Łukasz Zagała.
In the 18th edition of the “Polish Cement in Architecture” competition, the following awards were granted:
- First Prize ex aequo: Park of Operation “Tempest” near the Warsaw Uprising Mound and the Polish Army Museum (Southern Pavilion),
- Distinctions: Visitor Service Center at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Oświęcim and the District Court in Częstochowa,
- Special Award from the Association of Ready-Mix Concrete Producers: The Tatra Archive of Planet Earth – Nature Education Center in Kiry-Kościelisko.
We warmly congratulate all the laureates and thank them for their contributions to the development of Polish architecture!
