How the Port of Gdańsk reclaimed its industrial waterfront

Port cities have historically thrived by adapting to economic and technological changes as ships grew larger and ports had to keep up. In Europe, many port activities shifted toward the estuary in cities situated on rivers, leading to a separation of port and city. This has left many once bustling commercial centres in disrepair, presenting a challenge for city planners to restore them to their former glory.

One example of a restored industrial area is the Gdańsk port city in Poland, where the Młode Miasto area was regenerated and integrated with the rest of the city over the past 27 years. Danish architectural office Henning Larsen has been contracted to continue designing the area into a network of new squares, streets, residential, and commercial buildings that will connect the abandoned waterfront and the stories they tell to the inner city. The project highlights the Imperial Basin, the stunning views of the bay, and the potential for redevelopment of the waterfront warehouses. Architecture firms are also examining ways to improve flood management and promote biodiversity in the area.

The Gdańsk regeneration project exemplifies a broader shift in urban planning towards “green growth”, which restores landscapes and promotes a mutually beneficial relationship between the economy and the environment. Co-design and co-supervision of regeneration projects is also considered crucial. The transformation of the Młode Miasto area in Gdańsk has set an example for other cities to follow, including those in the United Kingdom and Norway.

Tags: polen,Hafen


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