COMPETITION FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE MAIN PUBLIC SPACE OF ORUNIA, GDAŃSK (PL)

Type: Competition, 2nd Prize

client: Municipality of Gdańsk

location: Gdańsk, Poland

design: Urszula Cryer, Kaja Chrosczilewska, Martina Troilo

year: 2019

topics: urban design, landscape architecture

Currently Gdańsk is undertaking numerous urban renewal efforts in some of its oldest districts. For many decades Orunia belonged to the most deteriorated parts of the city, but due to the close proximity to the centre, interesting landscape setting and its history as a garden district for the city aristocrats its popularity is slowly rising. The new public plaza with the surrounding green areas will become the heart of Orunia and complete the renewal program. 

Natural City Lab proposed to divide the whole area in three different functional zones. The Garden Foyer was divided from the busy main street by a cafe and kiosk building with extended noise protection wall. The plaza functions as the urban living room and provides the space for meetings and events. The History Gardens in the place of historic cemetery, form the formal recreation zone. Multiple connections between different zones of the project and the surrounding sport, green and service areas aim to create a holistic, accessible and truly democratic town centre for Orunia.

The space of the main square spans between two iconic brick buildings - church and former town hall, soon to be library. The new brick pavement encompasses those structures, binding them with the space of the plaza. Several landscaped areas within the surface of the square provide space for rainwater retention and designate smaller, more intimate zones for different activities.