Stanisław Żaryn


Stanisław Żaryn was an architect, urbanist, historian and academic teacher who significantly contributed to process of reconstruction of Polish historical architecture after its destruction by Germans during WW2. He was born in Warsaw to Eugenia and Franciszek Zaryn.
Married to Aleksandra had five children: Maria, Anna, Szczepan, Joanna and Jan. He died, aged 50, in Inowrocław while leading summer fieldwork research on historical buildings with his Warsaw Politechnic students.

Professional history

After graduation from elite Gimnazjum Towarzystwa Ziemi Mazowieckiej, he entered Poland's leading Technical University, Warsaw Politechnic. As a student at Faculty of Architecture, he continued his specialization with Prof. Oskar Sosnowski Chair of Polish Architecture. Active in academic life, he was elected president of Architectural Students Society and publish several articles on current Architectural issues. He graduated from the Warsaw Polytechnic with the degree of Architect-Engineer, where he later received his doctorate.
He finished reserve officers artillery school and In WW2 served in 1st Regiment of Horse Artillery. He was gravely wounded which saved him from prisoners of war death camp in Katyn. During the German occupation he was active in Polish underground resistance movement. Together with his wife Aleksandra, her sister Jadwiga and brother in law Władydysław Olizar, he sheltered and protected a Jewish family in their Szeligi estate, near Warsaw. In 1944 he fought in the Warsaw Uprising.
Immediately after the end of WW2 Zaryn formed with his architects colleagues the Department of Warszawa Historic Conservation at BOS. From 1948 he was historical buildings inspector and an architect of the City of Warsaw Conservation Office. In 1951 he organized and managed the innovative Research Work Group for Old Warsaw which included architects, planners, historians, archeologists and artists, dedicated to research, documentation and preservation of Poland's architectural heritage.
From 1957-1959 served as Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the Board of Museums and Monuments Protection.
Stanislaw Zaryn was the principal architect in charge of the design and construction of over 40 historical buildings. Among the most recognized works is Dekert city block of the Warsaw Old Town Square, housing the Archives and the Historical Museum of the City of Warsaw. His contribution included not only architectural projects, but also interior and exhibit designs. With eng. Stanislaw Hempel, he design and supervised reconstruction of the Column of King Sigismund III Vasa - the monument destroyed in 1944 by Germans. In 1980 the Historic Centre of Warsaw was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Despite political difficulties during communist regime, he worked closely with Church organizations in the restoration and rebuilding of several religious heritage buildings including fragments and details of Warsaw Cathedral.
As well, Zaryn was involved in several projects outside of Warsaw: Sandomierz Castle, churches in Bolimow, Lomza, Poznan Cathedral, historic townhouses in Jelenia Gora, Plock,  Brzeg.. He authored numerous articles and books on the history of architecture, conservation and reconstruction focussing on build heritage. He participated in many public lectures and radio interviews actively promoting conservation of Polish build heritage. During this period He also taught at the P.W. Faculty of Architecture with prof. Jan Zachwatowicz of Polish Architecture Chair and prof. Piotr Bieganski. From 1945 he was a lecturer and then Adjunct Professor till his death in 1964. In his teaching, Stanislaw Zaryn passed on to the next generation of architects, his extensive knowledge in the field of postwar reconstruction.

Publications