As announced on our Polish Architecture page in December FORT Architects won First prize in the International Architectural Competition for the European Solidarity Center Building: we now feature a full set of competition panels.



Polish Solidarity Centre Competition, Gdansk
Winner: FORT Architects, Poland
Entries: 62
Announced Dec 2007
Prize: £70,000
2nd: Gray International and Stelmach i Partnerzy, Poland
3rd: Arkitema, Denmark

THE CONCEPT

Prior to starting design work, it was necessary to list all features the building should have. Namely, it should reflect the essence of Solidarity and at the same time appeal to the young evoking interest, not only in the history of Solidarity, but also in its currently valid ideals.

In our opinion, extreme simplicity, which characterised the aims and methods of the Solidarity movement, should be the governing design principle. The architectural design is based upon evenly distributed parallel walls. The walls are bare and uncomplex, disposed of unnecessary details, having a crude, rusty corten steel finishing, which supports the principal of simplicity.



Steel walls, as a dominant design element, seem to be in motion. The first one cracks in half and leans forward. The others follow suit. The sense of dynamism of the historical change is achieved through slanting, rhythmically repetitive directions determined by the surfaces of the walls. The record of this historical change is to be found in the spaces of the building itself.

The main ideological principles of the design are conspicuous through the absence of excessive, redundant elements. Simplicity, as the main governing element of the design, is as obvious as once were the demands of the shipyard workers. Accessibility of the symbolic message conveyed by the building is one of the most important features of the design.



European Solidarity Center : more details



FORT Architects, ul. Grunwaldzka 212, 80-266 Gdansk, Poland

Polish Solidarity Centre Competition 3rd place : Arkitema



Polish Solidarity Centre Competition entry : Town Planning Design & Architecture





Polish Architecture

Polish House

Polish Building : British Embassy

Polish Solidarity Centre Competition Entry by Zvi Hecker Architekt

Polish House

World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Polish Architecture : Wroclaw building

Comments / photos for the European Solidarity Center Gdansk page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk

European Solidarity Center Building - page: adrian welch / isabelle lomholt