Arch. Tomasz KONIOR

The Seat of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR), Katowice

The centre of Katowice with 20 hectares of post-mining emptiness undergoes a revitalisation on an unprecedented scale in Poland. The objective is to point the city towards culture. The buildings there are supralocal and stimulate the entire region.

The NOSPR Project was selected in an international competition. “We chose a building with a simple, compact outline in the south of the 4 acre plot to keep the project close to the centre. Designing public spaces, we filled two squares and a park with 450 trees and attractions such as fountains, musical toys, a maze and an amphitheatre. The key idea was to contain a story within a story; combining to give the whole picture. Multi-layered, sensual space expressed through structure, materials, textures, light and sound which invokes emotions creating an unique atmosphere for meetings between musicians and music lovers.”

2008 – Award For the Most Friendly And Accessible For All Public building handed by the International Union of Architects for the development of the Music Academy in Katowice
2008 –Award of the Year handed by SARP for the development of the Music Academy in Katowice
2014 –Award of the Culture and National Heritage Minister for the best cultural architectural realization for NOSPR
2014 – “Cultural Merit Gloria Artis” silver medal for overall achievements
2015 – I prize in competition for rebuilding the National Library in Warsaw
2015 – I prize in competition for building the Music Schools Complex

Architect, urban planner, since 1995, has been running Konior Studio architectural office. Born in Żywiec in 1968. Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, Cracow University of Technology. Co-author of over 100 designs and projects for which he has won more than 30 awards in national and international competitions. He has received recognition especially for public buildings: schools, universities, concert halls and office buildings. The best-known and the most award-winning project is the Center of Science and Music Education “Symfonia” (“Symphony”) at the Academy of Music in Katowice.

The building has received, among others, SARP Award of the Year 2008 – the highest award given by the Association of Polish Architects SARP, Award For the Most Friendly And Accessible For All Public Project given by the International Union of Architects (2008). Together with the team, won the competition for the redevelopment of the city centre of Katowice (2006) and the international architectural competition for the seat of the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (2008) – so far the biggest design and realisation challenge (2014).

The first Polish winner of the Leonardo Award – International Biennale of Young Architects in Minsk (2007), the BCC award – Caesars of Silesian Business (2013) and the Prize of the Mayor of Katowice in the field of culture (2014). Member of the Silesian Regional Chamber of Architects, the Association of Polish Architects SARP. Head of the Coordination Team of Competition Judges at the SARP Main Board (2012 to 2015). Co-founder of the Institute of Contemporary City. Member of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (2013 to 2018). Enthusiast of classical music and historical cities