Helmut Swiczinsky

Helmut Swiczinsky (13 January 1944 – 29 July 2025) was an Austrian architect.

Life and career Swiczinsky was born in Poznań on 13 January 1944. He studied architecture at the Vienna University of Technology and the Architectural Association in London.

He founded the Viennese group of architects Coop Himmelb(l)au together with Wolf Dieter Prix and Michael Holzer in 1968. This company is known worldwide for its spectacular buildings. As a major member of this office Swiczinsky designed a lot of deconstructivist projects. In 2000 he stepped down as managing director and left the company in 2006 as partner.

In 1973 he was a visiting professor at the Architectural Association in London.

Swiczinsky died following a long illness on 29 July 2025, at the age of 81.

Memberships Swiczinsky was a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. the German Architecture Prize (Deutscher Architekturpreis) 1999 the Great Austrian State Prize 2000 the European Steel Award 2001 Decoration of honor for services to the State of Vienna 2002

Exhibitions Among other exhibitions that Swiczinsky staged were: 1968 Villa Rosa Vienna, Austria 2012: Coop Himmelb(l)au: 7+, Architekturforum Aedes, Berlin Roter Engel, Vienna, 1981 Rooftop Remodeling Falkestrasse, Vienna, Austria, 1988 FunderMax, Sankt Veit an der Glan, Österreich, 1988/1989 Groninger Museum: Pavillon Bildende Kunst, Groningen, Netherlands, 1994 Ufa-Kristallpalast auf der Dresden, 1998 SEG Apartment Tower, Vienna, Austria, 1998 SEG Apartment Block Remise, Vienna, 2000 Gasometer B, Vienna, 2001 Expo.02: Forum Arteplage, Biel/Bienne, Suisse 2002 Wettbewerbsbeitrag (2. Preis) for the Egyptian Museum, Kairo, Egypt Academy of Fine Arts, Munich, 2005 Büro- und Wohnanlage Schlachthausgasse, Vienna, 2005 Akron Art Museum, Akron (Ohio), USA, 2007 Centro Cultural JVC und Restaurant Mosku, Guadalajara, Mexico BMW Welt, Munich, Germany, 2007 Central Los Angeles Area High School #9, Los Angeles, Kalifornia, United States, 2008 Seat of the European Central Bank, Frankfurt, Germany Musée des Confluences, Lyon, France