A collaboration between Warsaw-based JEMS Architekci and Vastint, which made a name for itself with one of the most acclaimed residential projects in Gdansk, has resulted in a successful development project in Gdynia's Maritime Downtown. The new office buildings and apartments fit in with the city's modernist architecture and form a backdrop to the iconic Sea Towers. Though an assessment of the key spaces between the buildings remains to be seen.
The residential and office buildings have sprung up as part of the second phase of the Gdynia Waterfront complex, in close proximity to Sea Towers. This is the part of the city where the Maritime Downtown, a new district of Gdynia, is being developed with varying degrees of success on land adjacent to the waters of the Gulf of Gdansk, which formerly served the port and shipbuilding industry. The first buildings are already ready, with more in the pipeline, and any minute now construction is expected to begin on, among other things:
- a sailing center with investment apartments
- eight identical apartment buildings of Polski Holding Nieruchomości at the Fishing Pier
- a hotel and apartments at the marina.
Maritime Downtown in Gdynia. Another piece is ready
Gdynia Waterfront is a project that is being carried out with great momentum. The Vastint company (known in the Tri-City for its acclaimed Riverview project on the Motlawa River ) is building office buildings, apartments, hotels and, in the last stage, is planning a cultural function and a cinema. The first buildings: a hotel and an office building designed by the Fort studio opened in 2015.
Apartments in Gdynia Waterfront
Marysia Kot
JEMS Architekci studio (selected in a competition in 2016) is responsible for the design of the newest and next-to-last stage of Gdynia Waterfront. In Gdynia, it has become accepted that development projects for plots of land that are important to the city's image are selected through competitions. Anyway, such a requirement was written into the local plans. And although the legality of such provisions was later questioned, most investors respect this custom. It is interesting to note that in the local plan for the plots in the quarter of Hryniewieckiego, Waszyngtona and Jana Pawła II streets (i.e. Gdynia Waterfront), planners even stipulated that the competition should be conducted in accordance with the rules recommended by SARP, and the City is to be entitled to at least 50% of the casting vote.
On the right: the Sea Towers
Ewa Karendys
Gdynia Waterfront's four newest buildings house nearly 145 residential and commercial units, some 14,500 sf of leasable office space and are each six stories high. The bright, minimalist, six-story blocks of the residential part built on the side of Sea Towers fit in well with Gdynia's modernist architecture. One gets the impression that they also provide an adequate backdrop for both the already iconic towers and the development that was built in the first stage of the Gdynia Waterfront - with darker and more varied elevations.
The residential part, which is directly adjacent to the Sea Towers, has a minimalist facade
Ewa Karendys
Gdynia Waterfront. Passage with green square
The distinction between residential and office development is clear: the facades of the office buildings, arranged in a uniform plane, contrast with the diagonal walls of the residential buildings. The architects assumed that the translucent pergolas would create "soft" boundaries between the publicly accessible passageway space and the private courtyards of the residential buildings. Characteristic elements of the Waterfront project are first floors with arcades and columns, which define the first floor in a variety of forms and densities.
Gdynia Waterfront
Marysia Kot
The office and residential buildings are separated by a central walkway with green squares, playgrounds and pergolas. And it is this space between the buildings that is supposed to make the area vibrant with urban life. However, there will still be time to evaluate it - today the site is being commissioned, and the area is fenced off with a fence.
The design by the JEMS studio, which is responsible for developing the entire area, which is about 3.5 hectares, is the result of a competition won in 2016.
Marysia Kot
- We designed the greenery between the residential and office buildings so that the edge of the vegetation marks the former waterfront line. We wanted to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional space. The plants are arranged in a graded manner, with each element occupying a well-defined place," explains Izabela Leple, an architect from JEMS studio. - Simple forms and lines, repetitive rhythms give the architecture of buildings, courtyards, arcades, a uniform expression. Greenery has been separated by geometric flowerbeds, which emphasizes its orderly character.
Office building of the second stage of Gdynia Waterfront
Ewa Karendys
Ultimately, the first floors are to be filled with services, although the developer has yet to reveal which tenants will move in. And it is on whether an attractive offer for tourists and residents will be created that they will want to spend time here. For example, the neighboring Yacht Park luxury apartment buildings lack such services that could encourage strollers gathered around Kosciuszko Square and South Pier.
Office part of Gdynia Waterfront
Ewa Karendys
Vastint has yet to announce a start date for construction of the final, third, stage. This part is called the public part, because on the side of Jana Pawla II Avenue and the popular Kosciuszko square a cultural pavilion is planned, a central square, and a multiplex cinema will also return (the Gemini Center building previously located here was demolished). Two hotels will also be built: the first, with 160 rooms and a spa under the Moxy banner, and the second, with a conference center and 142 rooms.
Visualization of the development (all stages) of Gdynia Waterfront
JEMS Architekci / Vastint
