Maciej (Matthew) Nowicki, a pioneer of modernist architecture, was born in 1910 into a distinguished Polish family. He pursued fine arts in Kraków and architecture at the Warsaw Polytechnic. Nowicki married Stanisława Sandecka, herself a highly talented architect. After World War II, he contributed to plans for rebuilding Warsaw. He was also part of the design team for the United Nations Headquarters in New York and, in 1948, became acting head of the Department of Architecture at North Carolina State College (School of Design).
Nowicki is best remembered for the iconic J.S. Dorton Arena in Raleigh, where his style merged architectural aesthetics with structural engineering. His final major commission was the master plan for Chandigarh, the new capital of Punjab, developed in collaboration with American planner Albert Mayer.
For Chandigarh, Nowicki envisioned a fan-shaped, garden-city layout divided into superblocks. Each superblock was designed to be self-sufficient, integrating housing, schools, markets, and parks. His plan sought to blend traditional Indian aesthetics with modernist principles, emphasizing natural light, human well-being, internal courtyards, and vibrant façades inspired by Indian motifs. Today, Sector 8 of Chandigarh still reflects aspects of the original Nowicki–Mayer vision.
Tragically, Nowicki’s career was cut short when he died in a plane crash on the night of 31 August/1 September 1950, exactly 75 years ago, while returning from India. After his death, the Chandigarh project was entrusted to the eminent French-Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
To honor Nowicki’s legacy, the Polish Institute New Delhi, in collaboration with the Government Museum and Art Gallery of Chandigarh and Polish partners, is planning a series of commemorative events. These will include an exhibition, seminars, and lectures on architecture. Preliminary discussions were recently held with Ms. Isha Kamboj, Director of the Government Museum and Art Gallery of Chandigarh, and Deputy Curator Ms. Seema Gera, during a visit by Ms. Małgorzata Wejsis-Gołębiak, Director of the Polish Institute, to Chandigarh.
Photos by : City Museum Chandigarh
