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"A meeting place for all". Civic Center project in a symbolic location

30 of January '25

The Pawel Adamowicz Civic Center - a new cultural building with an exhibition function, a meeting place - would be built on the post-shipyard areas in Gdansk. - A lot of commercial investments are currently being built there, and it is important that we secure meeting places for everyone. One where you can enter without buying a ticket," says Basil Kerski, director of the European Solidarity Center.

The European Solidarity Center is the initiator of the construction of the Paweł Adamowicz Civic Center. The new building would stand next door to the institution, near Gate No. 2 of the Gdansk Shipyard. The local portal Trojmiasto.pl was the first to describe the plans. Although the venture is at the beginning of its journey, a conceptual design is already ready, which the ECS commissioned from Studio 1:1 in Gdansk.

One million visitors, expansion needed

When the construction of the ECS was planned, the optimistic assumptions were that the facility would be visited by 200-300,000 people a year, says Basil Kerski, director of the European Solidarity Center, in an interview with AiB. - In contrast, we are currently recording one million visitors. Additional spaces are needed, not only for us, but also for civic, exhibition activities.

The ECS director adds that it is decisive to take care of the development of symbolic sites, such as the shipyard areas.

Zaprojektowany zielony, publiczny plac ma pełnić funkcję miejsca do spontanicznych aktywność obywatelskich

The designed green public square is to serve as a place for spontaneous civic activities

© European Solidarity Center. Design: Studio 1:1

Nowadays many commercial developments are being built, it is important that we secure meeting places for all citizens. Those that can be entered without buying a ticket. Our focus is especially on those areas that should retain their non-commercial character, around: Solidarity Square, the Monument to Fallen Shipyard Workers, Gate No. 2 of the Gdansk Shipyard, the BHP Hall and the ECS. The Studio 1:1 project is to be an attempt to merge these spaces," explains Basil Kerski.

The facility would host temporary exhibitions, art, cultural and civic events. The Civic Center would bear the name of the tragically deceased mayor of Gdansk, Pawel Adamowicz.

Atrialny układ placu, wzbogacony o siedziska na tarasach, stworzy atrakcyjną przestrzeń do organizacji wykładów, pokazów, małych koncertów plenerowych, czy chwili wypoczynku dla uczestników wycieczek.

The atrial layout of the square, enriched with seating on terraces, would create an attractive space for lectures, demonstrations, small outdoor concerts or a moment of rest for tour participants.

© European Solidarity Center. Design: Studio 1:1

Paweł Adamowicz has become a symbol of bold visions, which may be unpopular at first, but are very beneficial to the city, because culture is a magnet, says Basil Kerski.

According to the assumptions, the building is not supposed to compete with the ECS. It is supposed to connect, ennoble Gate No. 2 of the Gdansk Shipyard and create as much meeting space as possible. He commissioned designers from Studio 1:1: Prof. Beata Szymanska and Prof. Jaroslaw Szymanski to carry out the ECS project.

- Professors Szymanski are very close to us, because together with them we created the permanent exhibition of the ECS and for years we studied the shipyard space when it was still less accessible," explains Basil Kerski.

Civic Center: transparent and open

The Civic Center is intended to be an open building both visually and physically, the designers describe. - Large glazing on the first floor will bind the interior with the surroundings, creating the impression of no boundaries and emphasizing the ideas of transparency and accessibility. Access to the green roof will be provided by elevators that are also accessible from the outside, even when the building is closed. Each level of the building will have an exit to a terrace, allowing the organization of various outdoor activities. The designed green public plaza is to serve as a place for spontaneous civic activities. Its atrial layout, enriched with seating on the terraces, will create an attractive space for the organization of lectures, demonstrations, small outdoor concerts, or a moment of rest for tour participants.

The presented project is a starting point for discussion. If decisions were indeed made to realize the Civic Center, an urban planning and architectural competition would be held, as was the case with the European Solidarity Center or the World War II Museum.

Projekt wnętrza Centrum Obywatelskiego

Interior design of the Civic Center

© European Solidarity Center. Design: Studio 1:1

The beginning of a dialogue

The competition itself is not enough, it matters who is invited to the competition committee, the ECS director explains. - In the case of the ECS building, it was a brilliant idea to invite foreign architects with experience in rebuilding industrial spaces, including George Ferguson and Hans Stimmann, to the competition jury.

What are the possible sources of funding for the construction of the facility?

We are inspired by the gesture of the government, which promised to subsidize the expansion of the Warsaw Uprising Museum with 100 million zlotys," explains Basil Kerski. - The ECS is an institution founded by the government, the city of Gdansk and the provincial marshal. In addition, this year we will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Gdansk Shipyard strike. The story of Solidarity's peaceful revolution, which freed Poland from the Soviet empire, has a unique significance for Europe against the backdrop of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and a situation where war is once again underway in Central and Eastern Europe and innocent people are being murdered. It is a proposal to expand the cradle of Polish and European democracy, which is the shipyard areas around the ECS in Gdansk.

Ewa Karendys

The vote has already been cast

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