The ceremony took place in the historic citadel area of Lublin, attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Poland Ha Hoang Hai, Lublin Mayor Krzysztof Żuk, representatives of the late architect’s family, local authorities and the Vietnamese community in Poland.

The memorial plaque honouring the late architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski is inaugurated in Lublin, Poland. (Photo: Embassy of Vietnam in Poland)

Architect Kazimierz Kwiatkowski (1944-1997) first came to Vietnam in the early 1980s, where he took part in the restoration and preservation of historical sites, beginning with the My Son Sanctuary.

In July 1982, during a visit to Hoi An, he was particularly struck by the ancient houses and the architectural value of the town. According to Nguyen Duc Minh, who once worked with Kazik, following this visit, the Polish architect decided to devote his weekends to surveying and documenting Hoi An’s architectural heritage without receiving any remuneration.

From late 1982, Kazik worked alongside architects from the Central Centre for Monument Restoration Design to survey and document buildings, draw maps and site plans of the ancient town, and assist local authorities in preparing scientific documentation to support its designation as a national heritage site.

He also encouraged scientists to conduct research on Hoi An, participated in a scientific conference on the ancient town in 1985, and wrote articles introducing Hoi An’s architectural and cultural values in Polish and French newspapers.

In March 1985, Hoi An Ancient Town was recognised as a national historical and cultural site. On December 4, 1999, more than two years after Kazik’s death, Hoi An Ancient Town was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. His contributions, together with those of Vietnamese experts, local authorities and residents, helped lay the foundation for the preservation and promotion of Hoi An’s heritage values.

To commemorate Kazik, Hoi An erected a statue of him in the heart of the ancient town in 2007. The image of the Polish architect, closely associated with the town’s old houses, has become part of the memories of many local residents.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Lublin, Ambassador Ha Hoang Hai expressed the gratitude of the Vietnamese State and people for Kazik’s contributions to the restoration, preservation and promotion of the heritage sites of Hoi An, My Son and Hue. He emphasised that the memorial was being established ahead of the 30th anniversary of Kazik’s death (1997-2027), while also symbolising the friendship between Vietnam and Poland.

Before the ceremony, Ambassador Ha Hoang Hai met with Lublin Mayor Krzysztof Żuk to discuss prospects for cooperation between localities in the two countries, including Da Nang and Lublin. The two sides also discussed the idea of organising cultural activities in Lublin to mark the 30th anniversary of Kazik’s death, with the participation of Vietnamese art troupes and the Vietnamese community in Poland.

On this occasion, the Ambassador presented a congratulatory letter from the Da Nang City People’s Committee to the Lublin city authorities and the late architect’s family.

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