The Manhattan estate at Plac Grunwaldzki in Wrocław stands as a defining example of brutalist-inspired residential design, originally envisioned with white balconies before execution left it in raw grey concrete. This complex remains the most prominent work of Jadwiga Grabowska-Hawrylak, a central figure in the post-World War II reconstruction of the city who navigated state-operated architectural planning for nearly four decades.
Early Education and Professional Beginnings
Born in 1920 in the village of Tarnawce, Grabowska-Hawrylak moved to Wrocław in 1945. She completed her studies at the Faculty of Architecture at the Wrocław University of Technology in 1950, becoming the first female graduate of the department following the war. Her professional career commenced with the restoration of historic Burgher houses located in the city's market square before she secured a position at the government-run office Miastoproject-Wrocław.
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Tasked with the significant challenge of rebuilding a city that had suffered 60% destruction, she focused primarily on housing and school infrastructure. Her portfolio included the House of the Scientist and the influential Manhattan estate. While her design intentions for the latter involved incorporating greenery into white-painted structures, the limitations of state-run construction resulted in unfinished concrete surfaces. These buildings underwent a major renovation in 2015 to restore their intended white aesthetic. Her broader conceptual work included designs for projects in Como, Italy, Manila, and a New Urbanist estate in Oleśnica.
Professional Recognition and Later Years
Grabowska-Hawrylak received significant recognition for her contributions to the field. In 1974, she became the first woman to receive the SARP Honorary Award from the Association of Polish Architects. Her honors also include the Gold Cross of Merit in 1972 and the Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 1989. Following her retirement from active architectural work in 1993, she pursued interests in quilting. Her final completed architectural project was the Millennium Memorial Church of the Diocese of Wrocław in 1996. She died in 2018 and is buried at Saint Lawrence Cemetery in Wrocław.
Fast facts
- Born: 1920, Tarnawce
- Died: 2018, Wrocław
- Education: Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Technology
- Key work: Manhattan estate, Wrocław
- 1974 Award: SARP Honorary Award
- 1989 Award: Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Final project: Millennium Memorial Church, 1996
- Burial site: Saint Lawrence Cemetery, Wrocław
Questions readers ask
What was the architectural significance of the Manhattan estate renovation?
The 2015 renovation completed the original design intent by painting the concrete structures white, as the architect had initially planned.
Did Grabowska-Hawrylak work on any projects outside of Poland?
She developed unbuilt proposals for a tourist center in Como, Italy, and a residential development in Manila, Philippines.
Achievements
- Notable work: House of the Scientist
- Notable work: Manhattan estate, Wrocław
- Silver Badge of Association of Polish Architects
- Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta
- Gold Cross of Merit
- Trained at Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Technology
