Gdynia Modernism
An ongoing project looking at Modernism in Gdynia (1926-1939)
The treaty of Versailles gave the reborn Polish Republic a short 140km coastline; "the Polish corridor” as it was dubbed meant access to the Baltic Sea but without a large harbour of its own. Whilst Poland had free access to the Harbour in the Free City of Danzig (Gdańsk) the German inhabitants made it difficult, this was evident during the Polish–Soviet War when the German dockworkers refused to unload shipments of military supplies that were being sent to aid the Polish army.
Realising the need for a port it was in complete control of, economically and politically, plans began to turn the fishing village of Gdynia into a fully working docks. Construction of the docks began in 1921 and building of the city began a little later. Tax privileges were granted for investors in 1927 and architects from across Poland moved to the city. These architects brought with them Modernist ideas of functionality, simplicity of shape and white facades whilst adding their own twist by referencing the harbour and maritime in their designs with the style going on to be known as Gdynia Modernism.
Modernism can be seen in all areas of architecture in Gdynia from residential houses and tenements to key public buildings such as the Port, City Hall, the Covered Market and the Train Station. This is due to the city’s rapid growth, going from 1,268 residents in 1921 to 127 thousand before the outbreak of WW2 in 1939.
Gdynia remained relatively undamaged during WW2 with allied bombing aimed at the harbour only a few stray bombs making their way to the city centre.
Today Gdynia represents the short interwar period of the Second Polish Republic new developments in the downtown area have been for the most part in keeping with the Modernist architecture and in 2015, then President Bronisław Komorowski awarded Gdynia’s downtown as a historical monument status guaranteeing it’s protection.
