Retired architect, urban planner, and esteemed member of Hungaria Nostra’s board of directors, Adam Krivatsy, AIA, AICP, passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 95.
Raised in Budapest, Hungary, Adam enjoyed a privileged upbringing until the Soviet siege in 1944 brought new challenges: the Krivatsy home was destroyed and the family became penniless. Only 15 when WWII ended, he escaped being drafted to serve on the Russian front where two of his older cousins perished.
In 1944, in anticipation of Soviet rule, Adam became an apprentice cabinetmaker. While a high school student, he spent his summers in the building trades, bending steel and stuccoing walls and ceilings. This experience later contributed to his architectural training.
In 1948, Adam was admitted to the Polytechnical University’s School of Architecture in Budapest, a school to which he later returned as an assistant professor. He also trained with the national alpine ski and sailing teams, honing his habits of focus and self-discipline.
Having lived and worked in feudalistic, communistic and capitalistic societies, Adam developed a great appreciation for democratic ideals. He left Hungary after the defeat of the 1956 Hungarian uprising and arrived in New York with the help of the International Rescue Committee. In 1957, he found employment at the office of the renowned architect, I. M. Pei. He learned English and earned a graduate degree in architecture with a focus on urban planning at Columbia University. Deploying skills acquired from his tenure at I. M. Pei’s office, he began to advise planning commissions and city councils regarding the revitalization of central cities.
Adam joined John Carl Warnecke’s firm in 1965 as head of the company’s Pacific Region planning office in Honolulu, Hawaii. He planned Hawaii’s first neighbor island destination resort community, which required balancing Maui’s agricultural production with expanding tourism.
In 1967, he assisted in planning Disney World in Central Florida. That year, he founded, in partnership with two colleagues from the Warnecke office, Hart Krivatsy Stubee, a multidisciplinary firm of architects and urban planners with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Orlando, Florida. Their built projects benefit residents and visitors throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, as well as Malaysia, Hungary, Australia, Sardinia, Jordan, Chile, Western Samoa, and Greece.
Later, Adam engaged in an international consulting practice, International Tourism and Resort Advisors (INTRA). The group’s projects spanned Alaska to Southern Chile, and Malaysia to Siberia. INTRA’s last two assignments involved a rejuvenation of Waikiki as a tropical urban destination, and an update of the Tahoe Regional Plan for the protection of the basin’s natural environment.
Adam spent the last two decades of his career as a senior planner in the San Francisco office of Hart Howerton, the successor of the firm he co-founded with Bob Hart in 1967. In his retirement, he made use of his professional experience, advising elected officials and planners with the City of Sausalito as well as his church in southern Marin.
Adam believed that the secret to effective leadership is to listen and reflect before speaking, to give much thought to everyone’s ideas, and to give credit to participants for their input. In that spirit, Adam enjoyed mentoring promising young professionals, which led to lasting friendships.
Ever devoted to his family, Adam leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Elizabeth, who sustained him through his last decade; their daughter Beatrice, son Serge, son-in-law Ramin, daughter-in-law Lise; and five grandchildren — Sophia, Adam, Luke Bela, Zoe, and Robin.
He joined the board of the Hungaria Nostra Foundation and helped to identify and evaluate several projects of cultural significance that HNF could support. His keen eye and deep insights will be missed.
Last Updated: March 26, 2026 by hungarianostra
HNF Funds Project in Transylvania
In early 2024, the Hungaria Nostra Foundation awarded a grant of $10,000 to the Agri-Cultura-Natura Transylvania Association for publications and events associated with the preservation and advancement of historic Transylvanian barn architecture. The goal of the association is to contribute to the regional development process in Transylvania and to ensure that the region, particularly the Csik Basin area, continues to develop in a way that preserves as much of its cultural and natural heritage as possible.
(Learn about other sponsored projects on the Projects page.)
Last Updated: March 25, 2026 by hungarianostra
Hungaria Nostra Board Transitions
At the September 2025 board of directors meeting, charter board member Molly A. Walker was elected HNF chair. Peter Szabadi continues as secretary of the board, and George Csicsery serves as vice president.
We are indebted to the following individuals who served as Hungaria Nostra board members.
Éva E. Voisin, Esq., president and CEO of Voisin & Associates and honorary consul of Hungary for San Francisco and Northern California, was a charter member of the board and served as chair and board member through mid-2025. Éva has supported numerous Hungarian causes worldwide and serves on the boards of several educational and philanthropic organizations.
Adam Krivatzy, AIA, AICP (1930-2025), contributed generously to the work of Hungaria Nostra and sought out several projects for the board to consider funding. (See the obituary, below.)
Suzy Baur, an interior designer who works for a design build company in the San Francisco East Bay, served as a board member for several years and resigned in late 2025.
We thank them all for their service.
Posted: January 11, 2026 by hungarianostra
Eminent Architect Adam Krivatsy Dies at 95
Retired architect, urban planner, and esteemed member of Hungaria Nostra’s board of directors, Adam Krivatsy, AIA, AICP, passed away on February 8, 2025, at the age of 95.
Raised in Budapest, Hungary, Adam enjoyed a privileged upbringing until the Soviet siege in 1944 brought new challenges: the Krivatsy home was destroyed and the family became penniless. Only 15 when WWII ended, he escaped being drafted to serve on the Russian front where two of his older cousins perished.
In 1944, in anticipation of Soviet rule, Adam became an apprentice cabinetmaker. While a high school student, he spent his summers in the building trades, bending steel and stuccoing walls and ceilings. This experience later contributed to his architectural training.
In 1948, Adam was admitted to the Polytechnical University’s School of Architecture in Budapest, a school to which he later returned as an assistant professor. He also trained with the national alpine ski and sailing teams, honing his habits of focus and self-discipline.
Having lived and worked in feudalistic, communistic and capitalistic societies, Adam developed a great appreciation for democratic ideals. He left Hungary after the defeat of the 1956 Hungarian uprising and arrived in New York with the help of the International Rescue Committee. In 1957, he found employment at the office of the renowned architect, I. M. Pei. He learned English and earned a graduate degree in architecture with a focus on urban planning at Columbia University. Deploying skills acquired from his tenure at I. M. Pei’s office, he began to advise planning commissions and city councils regarding the revitalization of central cities.
Adam joined John Carl Warnecke’s firm in 1965 as head of the company’s Pacific Region planning office in Honolulu, Hawaii. He planned Hawaii’s first neighbor island destination resort community, which required balancing Maui’s agricultural production with expanding tourism.
In 1967, he assisted in planning Disney World in Central Florida. That year, he founded, in partnership with two colleagues from the Warnecke office, Hart Krivatsy Stubee, a multidisciplinary firm of architects and urban planners with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Orlando, Florida. Their built projects benefit residents and visitors throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, as well as Malaysia, Hungary, Australia, Sardinia, Jordan, Chile, Western Samoa, and Greece.
Later, Adam engaged in an international consulting practice, International Tourism and Resort Advisors (INTRA). The group’s projects spanned Alaska to Southern Chile, and Malaysia to Siberia. INTRA’s last two assignments involved a rejuvenation of Waikiki as a tropical urban destination, and an update of the Tahoe Regional Plan for the protection of the basin’s natural environment.
Adam spent the last two decades of his career as a senior planner in the San Francisco office of Hart Howerton, the successor of the firm he co-founded with Bob Hart in 1967. In his retirement, he made use of his professional experience, advising elected officials and planners with the City of Sausalito as well as his church in southern Marin.
Adam believed that the secret to effective leadership is to listen and reflect before speaking, to give much thought to everyone’s ideas, and to give credit to participants for their input. In that spirit, Adam enjoyed mentoring promising young professionals, which led to lasting friendships.
Ever devoted to his family, Adam leaves behind his beloved wife of 45 years, Elizabeth, who sustained him through his last decade; their daughter Beatrice, son Serge, son-in-law Ramin, daughter-in-law Lise; and five grandchildren — Sophia, Adam, Luke Bela, Zoe, and Robin.
He joined the board of the Hungaria Nostra Foundation and helped to identify and evaluate several projects of cultural significance that HNF could support. His keen eye and deep insights will be missed.
Last Updated: May 12, 2023 by hungarianostra
News about the foundation
Our application process is ongoing. Visit the Grants page to submit your application to Hungaria Nostra Foundation of Los Angeles, Inc., PO Box 3510, Idyllwild, CA 92549, www.hungarianostrafoundation.org.