JOANNNA KLIMOWICZ

After the Second World War, Polish architects were often working abroad, realizing projects around the world. Many were sent to the Arab countries. One of those countries was Syria.

Stanisław Niewiadomski created the main concept of the Master Plan for the new University in Syria – Al Baath University in Homs. The main idea of the University complex was to locate all the faculties in one place. Stanisław Niewiadomski designed the Master Plan of the Al-Baath University as a flexible urban layout. The main design idea was to establish one big pedestrian axis running from east to west and a second smaller axis, running north-south. The design based on those axes was simple and flexible.

The Olympic Center in Latakia was realized after an international architectural competition for the Tenth Mediterranean Olympic Games in 1987, won by Wojciech Zabłocki. The entire project was done under the direction of Zabłocki. The complex was divided into building areas and the design was based on an organic concept. The idea of this complex was to link the Mediterranean sea with the sports facilities. The main idea was to be in harmony with nature and try and find local architectural idioms in the environment and incorporate them into the architectural solution. The urban and architectural designs were based on a curved line with flexible shapes taken from nature. The design solutions reflected natural shapes such as river beds, water basins, and even water creatures, as well as Arab traditional elements such as Beduin tents.

KEY WORDS

Syria, Stanisław Niewiadomski, Wojciech Zabłocki, Homs University, Olympic Centre in Latakia