Bust of Józef Szanajca in Warsaw

The bust of Józef Szanajca is a monument located in Warsaw's Praga-Północ district, at Szanajcy Street, on the corner with Jagiellońska Street. It was created by Bohdan Lachert, and the original bronze cast was made by the Bracia Łopieńscy company. The monument was unveiled on September 24, 1979, and is set on a granite pedestal bearing an inscription identifying Szanajca as an architect and the date of his death – September 24, 1939, when he fell in battle near Płazów. The bust, which pays tribute to Szanajca, not only holds historical significance but also represents an element of the artistic culture of post-war Poland. The original bronze portrait, created during the German occupation between 1943 and 1944, was stolen, and today an iron replacement stands in its place. The plaster model of the original is kept at the headquarters of the Association of Polish Architects (SARP), while the remaining bronze casts are held in the collections of the Lachert and Szanajca families. An interesting aspect is that Bohdan Lachert initially asked Zofia Trzcińska-Kamińska to create Szanajca's likeness but, dissatisfied with the results, decided to make it himself. It is also noteworthy that a photograph of Lachert standing in front of the sculpture was featured on the cover of Beata Chomątowska's book, *Lachert i Szanajca. Architekci awangardy* (Lachert and Szanajca: Architects of the Avant-Garde), highlighting the significant role both architects played in 20th-century Polish architecture. The monument is an important part of Warsaw's cultural landscape and serves as a reminder of Szanajca's architectural achievements, as he was associated with the avant-garde architectural movement in Poland.