May 19, 2026, 19.00
We invite you to a discussion of the book “Mirabilia czyli prywatna historia architektury” by Janusz Sepioł. We will discuss the role of architectural history in creating new designs and the influence of the past on contemporary thinking about space.
The starting point for the discussion will be Janusz Sepioł’s book, in which the author creates a panorama of European architecture, building it from personal stories, his own drawings, and carefully selected quotes from the works of the most important architectural historians. How does this kind of compendium of knowledge and experience influence design work? Do contemporary architects often turn to the past, and how much do they draw from it, and what do they reject? The author will discuss these questions with Prof. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak, Dr. Piotr Lewicki, Prof. Jolanta Sroczyńska and Dr. Dominika Długosz. The discussion will be moderated by Małgorzata Tomczak, editor-in-chief of the magazine “Architektura & Biznes”.
The publication “Mirabilia czyli prywatna historia architektury” refers to wonders, unique structures and places that hold personal significance for the author. It is a story about art, architecture and travel, describing direct encounters with the works of the past. Janusz Sepioł writes about artists, works, eras and the twists and turns of history, but above all about architecture as part of culture. “Mirabilia” also features over a hundred drawings and forty short texts describing architecture, from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece and Rome, to Art Nouveau and Modernism.
Janusz Sepioł, currently the Chief Architect of the City of Kraków, belongs to the now rare circle of architects who draw. He works in pencil, charcoal, ink and watercolor. In his books on the history and theory of architecture, he combines the erudition of an art historian with the artistic passion and sensitivity of a practicing designer.
The book was published by Wysoki Zamek Publishing House in collaboration with the Karwacjan and Gładysz Estates Museum in Gorlice.
The event is organized by the International Cultural Centre in Kraków and Wysoki Zamek Publishing House.
The discussion will be held in Polish.
Participants in the meeting:
Dominika Długosz, Ph.D., Eng., Arch. – an architect with over a decade of experience in cultural heritage preservation and the conservation of architectural monuments, and an assistant professor in the Department of Architectural History and Monument Conservation at the Faculty of Architecture of the Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Kraków. From 2018 to 2022, she served as Deputy Provincial Conservator of Monuments for the Małopolska Region. She is the author of academic publications and a participant in national and international research projects, including those concerning risk analysis for sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Prof. Magdalena Kozień-Woźniak – professor of architecture and dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Tadeusz Kościuszko University of Technology in Kraków. She combines research, design and teaching activities. She specializes in the design of contemporary museum and theater buildings and is the author of the monograph “Theaters of Interference: Contemporary Theater Architecture and the Informal Space of the Theater.” Founder of the Kozień Architekci studio, which has received numerous awards and distinctions for its architectural projects, including the Capitol Theater in Wrocław and the National Museum of the Przemysl Region in Przemyśl. Member of the Committee on Architecture and Urban Planning of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Scientific Council of the Carpathian Euroregion, the Gdańsk Council of Architecture and the Municipal Urban Planning and Architectural Commission in Kraków.
Dr Piotr Lewicki, Eng. Arch. – a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the Krakow University of Technology (BA 1990, PhD 1999). Between 1992 and 1999, he worked at the Institute of Urban Design at the Krakow University of Technology, and from 2003 to 2009 he taught design courses at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts of the Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University. Since 1988 he has collaborated with architect Kazimierz Łatak, and since 1995 has co-founded the renowned Lewicki Łatak Design Studio, which has won numerous awards and distinctions in architectural competitions. He is the recipient of, among others, the SARP Honorary Award, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage Award, and the Jože Plečnik Award from the Association of Czech Architects.
Janusz Sepioł – architect, urban planner, art historian and local government official. Chief Architect of the City of Kraków. From 2002 to 2006 he served as Marshal of the Małopolska Region and was a senator during the 7th and 8th terms. He is an architectural critic, curator of exhibitions in Poland and abroad, and a winner and judge of urban planning and architectural competitions. Author of a number of books, including: “Architekci i historia” (Universitas, 2014), “Praca nad krajobrazem” (Austeria, 2023). Co-author and editor of books such as: “Form follows freedom. Architektura dla kultury w Polsce” (International Cultural Centre, 2015) and the report “Przestrzeń życia Polaków” (Association of Polish Architects, 2014). He photographs and draws. He believes that drawing is a school of attentive observation and a path to understanding architecture.
Prof. Jolanta Sroczyńska – professor at the Krakow University of Technology, head of the Department of History of Architecture and Conservation of Monuments, Faculty of Architecture, Krakow University of Technology. Her main areas of research interest include the protection of Polish cultural heritage in the Eastern Borderlands, the theory and practice of historic preservation and the public perception of the value of cultural heritage. Author of numerous publications, including the academic monograph titled “Interpretive Presentation of Architectural Monuments in the Protection of Cultural Heritage” (2018, Krakow University of Technology Press). She is a member of the Polish National Committee of ICOMOS, the Interpret Europe Association and the Association of Monument Conservators – Małopolska Branch.
Małgorzata Tomczak – editor-in-chief of “Architektura & Biznes” magazine since 2009; she has been associated with the monthly since 2004. She is a critic and researcher of architecture, urban spaces, art and design. A graduate of art history from the Jagiellonian University (specialization: contemporary art), author of publications and lectures on architecture and the city, juror for architectural competitions and book editor. Her interests focus on the development of urban space and contemporary Scandinavian architecture. Curator of the educational program “Let’s Go to the City!” held at Bunkier Sztuki in Kraków.