Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | Krystyna Maria Johnson |
| Designation: | |
| Born: | 24 July 1934 |
| Died: | 27 January 2003 |
| Bio Notes: | Krystyna Maria Johnson was born in Warsaw on 24 July 1934, the daughter of Wincenty Dobraczynski, an electronics engineer, and his wife Katarina Irena Stopczanska, hospital matron. Her father was advised to leave Poland along with his colleagues when the Second World War broke out. However her mother thought it safer to remain and she moved from the suburbs to her grandmother's house in the centre of the Old Town. The German occupiers threatened to separate Krystyna from her mother but she managed to remain with her. After the war ended she escaped from Poland with her mother to join her father in Germany. Subsequently they moved to England. She was educated in Hull and studied architecture at the North London Polytechnic. It was there that she met Jim Johnson, a fellow student of architecture. After their marriage they moved to Cumbernauld when Jim was offered a post in the Cumbernauld Development Corporation. Their houses there became hubs for all those who believed in New Town living. They even entertained a Polish theatre company after the company had performed in the Fishmarket in Glasgow. In due course Krystyna Johnson accepted an offer of work with the Cumbernauld Development Corporation and was involved with the design of the Town Centre. In 1968 she was able to work part-time, teaching at Glasgow's two schools of architecture, at the Mackintosh School from 1968-1971 and at Strathclyde from 1972-1976. She then worked on the tenement improvement scheme in Govan, followed by a period on the ASSIST project of tenement improvement in which Jim Johnson was already involved. In 1979 she set up the first in-house architectural service for a Glasgow community-based Housing Association. She took charge of all aspects of the development work and trained several young members of staff. In addition to the tenement rehabilitation projects, she designed new-build housing and back-court improvements and co-ordinated work for private consultants. Her friendly enthusiasm enabled her to work well with local residents and her clients. In 1983 she returned to teaching while also working for Bower House Developments. In 1986 they moved to Edinburgh as Jim Johnson had been offered a position with the Old Town Conservation and Renewal Committee. They purchased Crocket's Land in West Bow and set about restoring it and became involved in the art and cultural milieu of Edinburgh. Krystyna acted as guide and interpreter to a team from Polish National Television who visited Edinburgh with a view to making a film on the Festival. She worked to forge links between Poland and Edinburgh and joined a team led by Edinburgh City Planning Department which was involved with the revitilisation of Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter of Cracow. She visited Poland in 1996 to participate in the Cracow Architectural Biennale and to present an exhibition of the work of young Scottish architects. In the 1990s she became interested in environmental issues and was one of the founding members of the Scottish Ecological Design Association. She was inspired by several of her young students who were working to develop new sustainable building methods. She retired in 1999. She and her husband undertook the restoration and conversion of a dilapidated stable block near Creetown in Galloway for a country retreat for themselves. They created a contemporary home within the old stone walls by dint of hard work and attention to detail. The house expressed their love of architecture, good design, paintings and sculpture and the role they played as patrons of the arts. Krystyna Johnson died in Fairmile Nursing Home on 27 January 2003, survived by her husband, and her son and daughters and her grandchildren. |
Private and Business Addresses
| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | |||||
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | |
 | Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | |||
| Crocket's Land/91, West Bow, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1986 | ||
| Creetown, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland | Private | 1990s | ||
Employment and Training
Employers
| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
| Cumbernauld New Town Development Corporation | Late 1960s | Architect | ||
Buildings and Designs
| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | |||||||
| Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | |
| 1968 | Cumbernauld Town Centre, Phase II | Cumbernauld New Town | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Was involved with the design at this point | |
| 1980s | Cafe Gandolfi | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans for conversion | ||
| 1980s | Cheese Market building | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion | ||
| 1980s | Crocket's Land | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | ||
| 1980s | Hillhead Garden Centre, office and shop | Hillhead | Glasgow | Scotland | ||
| 1990s | Stable block | Creetown | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Restoration and conversion to house | |
References
Periodical References
| The following periodicals contain references to this : | |||||
| Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | |
| RIAS Chartered Architect | 2003 | v14, no5 | Winter issue | |
| Scotsman | 18 March 2003 | Obituary | ||
Archive References
| The following archives hold material relating to this : | ||||
| Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | |
| H M Register House | Death Register | ||
| RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | ||