ArchitectureCulture

Joseph Rykwert has passed away – one of the greatest theorists of modern architecture

Text: Marcin Szczelina

 

On October 17, 2024, Joseph Rykwert, one of the most eminent architectural theorists of the 20th and 21st centuries, passed away. His ideas, central to major discussions about space, cities, and buildings, shaped generations of architects and critics around the world. Rykwert not only left behind a rich literary legacy but also an inspiring intellectual contribution that forever changed how we perceive architecture.

 

Photo: Bartek Barczyk

 

On that day, the worlds of architecture and humanities suffered a profound loss. At the age of 98, Joseph Rykwert passed away – a man whose influence on our thinking about space, buildings, and urbanism far exceeded academic boundaries. His name is now synonymous with a reflection on architecture that is understood not just as a technical or artistic achievement but also as a deeply philosophical and humanistic practice. In his numerous books and public appearances, Rykwert did not just analyze historical and contemporary architectural trends, but provoked thought about architecture in a broader context – anthropological, religious, and social.

 

First meeting with the master

 

I first met Joseph Rykwert many years ago while working on a book about the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio in Katowice. It was an honor to invite him to Katowice to share his unique perspective on architecture and public space. His presence in this project was an intellectual challenge for me, but it also marked the beginning of a personal relationship that grew closer over time. It was through him that I began to understand how deeply his books and ideas shaped my perception of architecture.

 

Rykwert’s books have always been an indispensable source of inspiration for me. Works like On Adam’s House in Paradise, where he explored the primitive beginnings of humanity’s need for shelter, and The First Moderns, where he challenged conventional assumptions about modern architecture, forever changed my understanding of what architecture truly is. Rykwert reminded us that what we consider innovative and contemporary often has its roots in the past, and that architecture, whose purpose is to help people live, must respond to deep needs and values.

 

Architecture as a dialogue with space

 

In his book The Idea of a Town: The Anthropology of Urban Form in Rome, Italy, and the Ancient World, Rykwert analyzed the genesis of ancient cities, examining how rituals, religion, and the sacred influenced their development. He argued that cities were not the product of random chance but rather the result of deep reflection on social and spiritual relationships. He claimed that “architecture is a response to our rituals, to our way of experiencing the world.” This approach to architecture as something more than a mere practical tool permeated all of his work and became the foundation of his later publications.

 

One of Rykwert’s greatest contributions to architectural theory was his rejection of a purely functional approach to buildings. “Architecture is building that helps people live,” he famously said, emphasizing that the spaces we live in should not simply be the result of technological advancements but should meet our deeper, humanistic needs. Throughout his work, Rykwert consistently questioned theories that reduced architecture to a financial investment or an economic tool. He argued that unless we understand architecture as a form of social engagement, it will never fulfill its true role.

 

Architecture Snob cover; photo: Bartek Barczyk

 

Meeting in London – the start of collaboration

 

In 2020, as I was working on the first issue of Architecture Snob, I knew that Joseph Rykwert had to be its central figure. He had shaped my thinking about architecture over the years and was an unquestionable authority for me. Our conversation, which took place in his London home, was one of the most important moments in my career. It was not just an ordinary interview but a deep immersion into the world of a man who had spent his life exploring the mysteries of space and buildings.

 

During this conversation, Rykwert shared his thoughts on the state of contemporary architecture, its role in times of global challenges, and crises. His reflections on the pandemic, which had just begun, were particularly interesting. “This pandemic is not as terrifying as it may seem. The Black Death was far worse,” he said. His measured approach to events that shocked most of us showed his ability to view the world from a long historical perspective. Rykwert emphasized that while the pandemic would change our relationship with space, it would not destroy the fundamental needs that architecture must always meet.

 

Polish roots and ties to his homeland

 

Joseph Rykwert was born in Warsaw in 1926, and although he spent most of his life abroad, his ties to Poland were strong and deeply rooted. Rykwert left Poland in 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, moving to England. His departure was driven by growing wartime dangers. He began his education at the renowned Charterhouse School in England and later continued his architectural studies at Bartlett School of Architecture at University College London and at the Architectural Association in London. Although he developed an extraordinary academic career in England, Poland remained close to his heart throughout his life. He spoke fluent Polish despite the years spent abroad, and every opportunity to return to his homeland was incredibly important to him. Warsaw and other Polish cities were sources of inspiration for him, and in his books, he often referenced Polish history and architecture, emphasizing that Poland, although far from his everyday life, was always a special place – a symbol of his connection to his heritage.

 

Intellectual and personal legacy

 

Joseph Rykwert was not only a scholar and architectural theorist but also a teacher who raised generations of architects and critics. His works had a fundamental impact on contemporary thinking about architecture, and his books, such as The Seduction of Place: The History and Future of Cities, The Idea of a Town, and On Adam’s House in Paradise, are essential reading for anyone who wants to understand architecture at its most fundamental level. These works go beyond the narrow confines of architectural theory and open up a broad field of reflection on the human condition, culture, and social structures.

 

Rykwert spoke eight languages fluently and traveled the world, lecturing at leading universities and inspiring successive generations of architects. Despite his advanced age, he remained actively involved in debates on the future of architecture until the very end. His intellectual brilliance, passion for learning, and unending curiosity about the world made conversations with him profoundly inspiring and memorable.

 

His passing is a deeply personal loss for me. I eagerly took every opportunity to call him, to talk about architecture, to hear what was happening in his life, and to share my reflections on the world around us. His insight, kindness, and remarkable ability to view problems from a broad perspective were a valuable source of learning for me. Now that he is gone, I feel a deep sense of loss that those conversations have ended. Every call, every meeting with Joseph Rykwert was not just an intellectual challenge but also a great honor.

 

A legacy that will endure

 

Though Joseph Rykwert is no longer with us, I am convinced that his intellectual legacy will endure for generations. He left behind not only monumental books and articles that continue to shape how we think about architecture but also a profound influence on all who had the privilege of knowing him. His ideas will continue to shape future generations of architects, critics, and thinkers.

 

Rykwert taught us that architecture is more than just buildings – it is the space where our lives unfold, a space we co-create, and one that defines us. His death fills me with sadness, but I am deeply grateful for the privilege of having known him. Joseph Rykwert, a brilliant mind and a great man, will remain forever in our hearts and memories as one of the most important intellectuals in modern architecture.

 

Photo: Bartek Barczyk