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Mausoleum of the Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów
Tomasz Kawecki
Series description
The Mausoleum of Martyrdom of Polish Villages in Michniów was created in 2009 by a team led by Mirosław Nizio. The sculptural form of the mausoleum is an architectural memorial to the pacifications that took place in Michniów and other Polish villages in 1943, during World War II. The structure’s monolithic body is open to nature, the sky and the landscape, changing — sometimes abruptly — with the weather, as light reaches the interior through cracks between the segments.
The back of the building.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The building contains archival photographs from which the figures have been removed.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The rear of the building.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A side view of the building reveals crosses brought to the site by the local community. These crosses were the prototype for the cutouts made in the individual segments of the memorial.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The crosses located outside served as the prototype for the cutouts in individual segments of the structure.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Light reaches the interior through breaks between the segments. Depending on the time of the day and year, it can illuminate the permanent exhibition located in the building.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Photographs and historic documents are on display, alongside large sculptural forms representing ruined huts. Some of these forms are covered with sheets of black steel and prints presenting the history of the pacification.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
The chief designer of the mausoleum was Nizio Design International architectural studio, led by Mirosław Nizio. The team was responsible for the concept, construction and implementation phases of the architecture and interiors, as well as land development.
© Tomasz Kawecki, Poland, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Architecture & Design, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards